Another week has ended as another one begins.  I’ve noticed how short the days are, even here on the western edge of the Mountain Time Zone. It gets dark now before the evening news comes on and dawn seems reluctant to break forth in the mornings. We’ve had snow and bitter cold, especially today when an arctic wind reminded me to dress for comfort, not vanity.  The shortest day of the year is still a month away so winter isn’t official yet. But it feels like winter already.

It’s been a quiet Sunday. I came home from church spiritually filled with God’s Word and full from of a good potluck meal. I curled up in front of the fireplace with an entertaining Whodunnit and did nothing more than turn the pages of the book and sip my tea. At least for a while. I can only do nothing for so long!

I kept thinking of a Word that’s come to me more than once. During worship, we sang a song , “One Thing Remains” which   seems to be a favorite at Mountain Life Church. It is about God’s unfailing love upholding us when there is nothing else left. The chorus is taken from the Book of Lamentations:

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. Lam 3:22

The Hebrew word chasde  used in this Scripture literally means covenantal loyalty but some versions also interpret it as lovingkindness, mercy or compassion. In the context of the worship song, the idea is steadfast love.

His love never fails, never gives up, never runs out one me…

Too often, we rely on some one else to be steadfast throughout all our circumstances and are then crushed when they disappoint. A friend once warned me, “ I will fail you, but God never will.” At the time it was not a comforting statement. I believed God had always failed me previously, so how could I trust such a promise? Circumstances proved my friend’s words to be true in both respects. God did not fail. His love never left me alone for a moment .

It is only and solely the love of Jesus which never fails us because Jesus alone is the incarnation  of the Father’s love for us.  In Jesus’ greatest hour of suffering His disciples failed Him. They gave up on Him. They ran out on Him because they were scared and broken men. They had forgotten their Lord’s promise that He would not  forsake them. He would not leave them orphans.

As the Savior hung dying on the cross, crushed by the weight of sin, He felt the abandonment of God and accepted His wrath for our sakes and thus, we are saved. No greater love or compassion or mercy has ever compared to the love of God in Christ Jesus and because of that Paul declares God will not run out on us.

… neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39

…His love never runs out on me…

There is another sense in which God’s love never runs out. His love is inexhaustible. It’s a wellspring which can never be emptied or run dry no matter how many times it is poured out. Why is that? It is because the very nature and character of God Is Love! 1. John reveals

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. … 1. John4:8

The God Who Is Love can never be contrary to Himself. It is illogical and impossible for God to run out of Himself. What an amazing realization. What a hope and promise that is for anyone who has ever felt that somehow God’s love for them is too small, as if there wasn’t enough to go around for the entire human race and universe. That kind of thinking comes from our own stingy, miserly hearts which have been hurt by love that did run out. Our self focused, small   hearts are promised an answer and healing.  What’s needed is God’s covenant chesed: mercy, compassion, limitless Love which wrecks us to abandon all  else to Him Who… … so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

EAG