Friday, December 21, 2018

BIBLE NUGGETS: THE STEADFAST LOVE OF A BABE IN A MANGER



Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. 
(Psalms 32:10)

Trust His love, trust His goodness, trust His purpose, trust His holiness, trust His righteousness, trust His faithfulness, no matter the sorrows  you must endure. These are sure things of God's attributes that we can count on that are "immovable."

Even though there are also many sorrows for the Lord's children, He is our reason to rejoice, because His steadfast love surrounds us, no matter the fiery furnace we must walk through in this life. The many sorrows of the wicked lead only to hopelessness and despair.  But in Christ there is no sorrow that does not have a good ending.

Definition of steadfast (Webster's dictionary)
1a : firmly fixed in place : IMMOVABLE
b : not subject to change
2 : firm in belief, determination, or adherence : LOYAL

Your love for me is immovable, dear Lord!  You are loyal to Your promises. How secure! How wonderful!  What peace and assurance I have in Your love!  It's not subject to change.  You will not suddenly change Your mind or heart toward me, and nothing can separate me from Your love.

Romans 8:28-39
(28)  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
(29)  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
(30)  And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
(31)  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
(32)  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
(33)  Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
(34)  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
(35)  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
(36)  As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
(37)  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
(38)  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
(39)  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

May God's steadfast love fill your hearts today, surround you, and lift you up with His wings to enable you to soar above whatever in this life you face today. Long ago, He came to us as a babe in a manger. God became man. He came out of steadfast love and a promise of redemption for mankind.  All who put their faith in Him now receive eternal life and a joy that will never end.  It's a steadfast promise, that came out of a steadfast heart of love to mankind.  It will not be broken for all who put their trust in Him. 

John 1:12-14
(12)  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
(13)  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
(14)  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.