God's Nature!

God's Nature!

Lamentations 3:22 AMP

[22] It is because of the Lord’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, Because His [tender] compassions never fail.

When you read the first few verses of the chapter from where the verse above is taken, you will struggle to align the messages. At the start of the chapter, we indeed read of the lamentations of the writer Jeremiah. Here was a man God had used to teach the children of Israel the dangers of rebellion against God and the dire consequences that follow. He spoke out against the political and 'spiritual' leaders  of his time, and he paid a huge price for his words. We read of times he was put in prison in the court of the  king, and at another time, he was beaten by a man who was supposed to be a priest, a chief officer in the house of God. 

These were just a few of the things Jeremiah had to face because he was speaking God's mind to a rebellious people. Who says being on God's side automatically keeps you away from trials and tough times? In fact, it is then that the world opposes you because it knows that it no longer has any hold over you. This was the reflection of Jeremiah at the start of the chapter when he introduced himself as the man who has seen affliction because of the rod of God's wrath. He was not the one who did wrong, and he was only sent to speak God's mind about the people's wrongs, yet he suffered affliction. Before I claim to be on God's side, am I ready for what that claim really entails? 

One great thing about God that is evident in all His dealings with those who He uses is that He backs them up. He does leave us to fend for ourselves or to struggle through pain on our own. Jeremiah was harassed, beaten and oppressed, yet God will not allow anyone to take his life, not even the king  with all his might and army. Jeremiah had some nasty experiences, to the point where he even went to God to complain about what he deemed to be God's heavy hand against him. Thank God that the answers to his dilemma came in the verse above. God never leaves us in doubt that He is on the side of all whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

He does not call and abandon. He does not send out without backing up. One theme that has run through the experiences of Jeremiah is that God's mercy and love is beyond compare. There is no way that man in his fallen nature can fully comprehend the loving kindness of this God. Even for Israel that had sinned, God would not leave them alone, how much more a man that was faithful to God's message. If Israel could experience God's mercy, despite its failings, it gives me hope that God will not give up on me. He will not let me go; He will not abandon me to my devices and He will do all He can to restore me. That is love from God's perspective. How do you respond? God's time of favour is here.