The Good News of New Beginnings
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul; therefore, I will hope in him” (Lamentations 3:22-24).
Do you know the context of that declaration of thanksgiving and praise? It comes from the horror story that we call Lamentations, which contains heartbreaking cries to God in the midst of experiencing the horrors of war when Jerusalem was sacked and burned in 586 B.C. The lamenter—whether Jeremiah or someone else—has few answers and many questions and tears. And yet, in the middle of Lamentations’ five laments we find one of the most beautiful confessions of God’s goodness in all of Scripture. That’s surprising and inspiring.
I sometimes have heartache and trouble, but mine doesn’t compare to the terrors described in Lamentations. I’m not at war, my family is mostly healthy, and I have plenty of good work to keep me busy and satisfied. So, I’d better be careful to not become complacent. I’d better watch out to make sure I don’t take God’s mercies for granted. There is too much good in my life to not react in gratitude and service to the God who makes things new every day.
We’ll talk more about the Good News of New Beginnings in our lesson today. May God bless our time together.
—Patrick Barber, preaching minister
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