Oct 31, 2021
Today marks the 504th anniversary of
Martin Luther’s launching of the Protestant Reformation in 1517. At
the beginning of the 16th century, the Western church was coming to
the end of a long period of forgetfulness, corruption, and turmoil.
Similarly, the book of Lamentations presents a picture of a people
trusting in their own righteousness— which only brought
disappointment, grief, fear, and sorrow. They were inhabitants of a
land “with devils filled.” In the
midst of all of this, the prophet can nevertheless declare, “The
Lord is my portion … therefore I will hope in Him” (Lamentations
3:24). Do you bear a cross of grief or pain? Does evil seem to
prosper? Don’t fear—the right Man is on our side and He is from age
to age the same. His mercy is forever sure. He has promised good to
us—and He will be our portion as long as life endures. He is a
stronghold in troubled days, a refuge evermore, and will fulfil the
desires of our
hearts. We hasten toward the hour when those disappointments,
griefs, and fears are forgotten, because we are with Him. On this
day, when we remember the work of the Reformers who called the
church to return to the truths of
Scripture, we can rejoice that we serve a God who is faithful to
restore His people.
—Henry C. Haffner & Emma Marsh
Key Words: Wormwood,
Gall, Steadfast Love, New, Faithfulness, Return, Redeemed
Keystone Verse: The steadfast love of the Lord
never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every
morning; great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)