January 13

God uses some weighty words in Lamentations 3:22-23. Think about them as you read: “It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great and abundant is His faithfulness.”

Four of the six are nouns that name positive attitudes that He has toward His people—mercy, loving-kindness, compassions, faithfulness—and they reassure even the most corrupt among us of the tender heart that our God has toward His errant creation. In that assurance we boldly approach His Throne, knowing He will not turn us away, though our lives are encumbered with sin and shame.

Because of His mercy, because His mercy and His faithfulness are described with the adjective “abundant” we know we are covered. We know that when He looks upon us He doesn’t see our sin but He sees the covering of righteousness that has been placed upon us by Jesus on the cross. We know His mercy compels Him to look upon us with favor and grace.

And, because we have a Savior whose sacrifice is efficacious, we needn’t fear being put out of God’s holy chamber—or being consumed by the flame of His wrath! We may approach Him, we may lay our sin at His feet with hands that are washed by the blood of Jesus. We may approach Him knowing His compassion and loving-kindness will send us away cleansed!