Eyes Wide Open: 41-Day Lenten Devotional Sample

Forever Faithful

“Know that the Lord is God.It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture….For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;his faithfulness continues through all generations.” – Psalm 100: 3, 5

“You will never be able to accomplish the costly work of loving the lost, the difficult, the broken or the exasperating, until you wrestle with the reality that youare Gomer.” 

The room was silent as these poignant words left the lips of Pastor Bryan Loritts and fell upon the assembly like a warm, heavy rain. We knew instinctively, theologically, and personally what these words meant and the heartache that must accompany such a recognition—that in our walk with the Lord, we had often been unfaithful. 

Like Gomer, who had been drawn by other lovers, forsaking the love of her husband the prophet Hosea, we too had been drawn away and enticed by our earthly desires. And as a result, we had broken the heart of the One who, like faithful Hosea, had married himself to us and sacrificed his life for us that we may gain eternity. 

In this admittance and repentance, we now had been given an opportunity to turn our wayward, wandering hearts from those things that sought to possess us onto Jesus who, in steadfast love, died an agonizing death that he might possess us once again. 

What joy to be washed and free and to be given the right to proclaim, “The Lord is good and His steadfast love endures forever” (Ps. 107:1). From this moment on we may live in gratitude, as God draws us with his heart and his strength so that we may in turn share this truth with others who are in need of such good news. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you that even when we are unfaithful, you are faithful, always. May I never cease to give thanks for your enduring, pursuing, steadfast love that refines and transforms me into a committed follower of your son, Jesus Christ, who laid down His life that I and others may live in joyful freedom and peace with you forever. Amen.

- Written by Laurel Bunker