God’s grace is amazing and His faithfulness is neverending.

God’s Word tells us that. I remember the first time that I really “got” that concept. It came from the mouth of my professor, mentor, and later colleague and friend, John Olen Strange. Dr. Strange served as a chaplain in World War II in one of the bloodiest island battles of the war. His favorite passage of Scripture was Lamentations 3:22-23. It’s simply not everyday that you find someone who’s favorite passage of Scripture is from Lamentations.

When I heard his quoting of this Scripture and remembered where he had been, I really did “get” it. These are the verses: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Dr. Strange thought of every day as a new day with God’s blessings being given anew.

This is a wonderful way to live. When I think of these verses, I see in my mind a bucket or a container filled with cool water. All day long I drink from the bucket, as much as I need. At the end of the day, the bucket has been depleted, but when I arise in the morning the bucket is full again. This happens everyday.

That is the picture of the faithfulness of God. His faithfulness, mercy, and compassion never fail. They are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness.
There are many such pictures in the Old Testament. One of my favorite is Psalm 23, particularly the last verse. This verse reads: “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6).

In the Hebrew original of this verse, the word follow means to pursue. Get this picture. God’s mercy is not a puppy following us around, it is a hound who is on the trail to track us down and lavish us with God’s mercy and love.

What an amazing God we serve.