Can I have your attention please?

Listen here:  https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2526ad95/can-i-have-you...

Words fascinate me. In the last year, as I have been reading through the Bible, one word kept jumping off the page at me. 'I've got to research that one day,' I thought often. After what I heard this morning, this is that day.

Now I have to warn you - most would consider the word archaic, and I have not heard it used except in this context. Some would say they are not even quite sure exactly what it means, but that's a reason to step a little closer.

The word? steadfast.

And then I noticed something else--most often when scripture employs the word steadfast, it is coupled with love, and describes God--that is, the steadfast love of God.

My favorite reference from the outset is this one:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.1 This comes from the pen of the prophet Jeremiah, who used the Hebrew word 'hesed', a word that means so much more than our English word communicates. Included in this divine love of God is never-ending mercy and compassion in action.

Yesterday morning, walking and listening to Psalms, I was impacted by just how many times God's steadfast love is mentioned! The psalms/the songbook of the Jewish people was written by several different folks at various times, but this great grace permeates the anthems of several authors! Citing his steadfast love, David asked God to deliver his life. Psalm 6.4 And I love how David pleaded with God in Psalm 25: Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!2

As I consider conversations over the last couple weeks, on airplanes, in the hospital NICU, in airports, on the phone, and at church, there is not a one of us who does not need to know and experience the steadfast love of God.

One man comes to mind right now though, Femi; I met him in the Oklahoma City jetway, bound for Atlanta. When he asked my business, I explained that I had gone to serve in a local church. He gave the cursory nod of understanding, and then I asked 'so are you a man of faith?' 'No, no. I used to be - not anymore,' he said, which of course begged the question 'oh, why not--did something happen?' 'Oh yes,' he said, 'hypocrisy--that's what happened.' [how I wish this was the first time I had heard that]

Femi explained that 'he had come to the US from Nigeria as a Muslim, but met his wife and then became a Christian--raised their children that way too.'

Good, so far, but then...

'she lied, she cheated, she did horrible things - well, I don't need that hypocrisy, that Christianity in my life.'

I turned and looked into his hypnotic blue eyes and said, 'I am a Christian... I am so sorry for what you experienced. That is not the way of Christ,' I said as we walked.

By now, we were in the doorway of the airplane and I said, 'but Femi, please do not throw the baby out with the bathwater!' (okay, I admit this was lame)

I grabbed his shirtsleeve and said,

'Listen, I have been with people at the end of their lives, and they are not talking about hypocrisy then or other ways the church has failed them ... they are wanting to know that if there is a Heaven, they can go there. No matter how hard hearted they have been, they want to be with God, if it is not too late to know him! So please do not give up on God.' Femi, are you reading??

Back to the psalms. Randomly, I decided to go to church with my daughter this morning, meaning it had not been planned. Her minister, J.D. Greear, preached on Psalm 88 and 89 - only God could have orchestrated this 'coincidental' occurrence.3 Psalm 88 is the cry of an anguished soul, being honest and real with God, whereas bumped up against it is the equal authenticity of Psalm 89 ... I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.4

You see, God can handle it when we cry out to him, pounding on the doors of heaven for relief. And when we stay faithful in prayer, we will find God, and ultimately praise him.

So at the start of this week of Thanks-giving, I want to thank God for his steadfast love. "Father, I want to thank you that no matter what I have said or done, your steadfast love remains; it lasts forever, and one day, I will experience it face to face. And well, that is the reason you do not run out of mercy or grace, the reason you do not give up on me."

Consider with me beautiful Psalm 136:1-

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

Listen, please: short, true, life-giving: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYkGipgrqmg

Thankful,

Christine

PastorWoman.net

1 - Lamentation 3.22-23

2 - verses 6-7

3 - I will go to the evening service to see my friend be baptized tonight, so I will not miss our Sunday sermon and worship, but just felt it was an opportunity this morning

4 - Psalm 89.1