Great is the faithfulness of God.

We shall thank God today for His faithfulness to us, our families, the church, and the nation.  The faithfulness of God assures us that, because He is faithful, no matter what happens, it shall be well.

Then, we will also thank Him in a way that will please Him. Because those who please God receive special blessings from Him.

Text Lamentation 3:19-26

The faithfulness of God

God is faithful, but we are not.  Jeremiah, who composed the book of Lamentations, acknowledged this truth thus: ‘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 (Lam 3:22-24).

St. Paul writing to Timothy reminded him that ‘if we are faithless, he [God] remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself’ (2 Tim. 2:13).

The exile to Babylon was a form of judgement because the Israelites forsook God. In Ezekiel 36, God promised to restore the people to their land and provide them with better living conditions and their system of worship but reminded them that HE would do so because of His faithfulness.

About our sanctification, the Bible reminds believers that God will do it: He will sanctify our spirit and soul (1 Thess. 5:23-24); He who began the good work of salvation in us will complete it (Phil. 1:4-6).

Pleasing God

Abel pleased God through His offering, but Cain did not (Gen 4:3-7)

Noah’s thanksgiving sacrifice pleased God (Genesis 8:18-9:17).

Solomon’s sacrifice to God was pleasing to HIM (1 Kings 3:4-5)

How can we please God? How did the people of old do it?

Faith (Joh 14:1-12; Heb 11:6). When we have faith in God, we follow His instructions, and miracles happen.

Hope: those who hope in God wait upon Him, and they shall renew their strength  (Isaiah 40:30-31)

Love: Our love for God motivates what we do for Him, e.g., worship.  (Matt. 22:37)

The fear of God: the fear of God helps us to be careful in life, to do what is only good (Prov. 9:10)