Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Never Forsaken
Today’s Verse:
For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. ~1 Samuel 12:22
Perhaps one of the worst feelings, if not the worst feeling, to have is the feeling of abandonment, being deserted, and being forsaken. Being abandoned makes us think we are not wanted or worthwhile. It carries the idea that everyone has walked out in our life and has no concern for what happens to us. Jesus experienced the depths and horror of being forsaken when, on the cross, He cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” However, our devotion this morning centers on the oft repeated reminder that “the LORD will not forsake his people.”
We see the commitment.
“For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake….” God gives an absolute commitment to His people that He will not forsake them. An absolute commitment is an irrevocable guarantee. It is certified by God in His name. His name is mighty, powerful, holy, unfailing, eternal, and authoritative. Kings sealed legal documents with their ring and with their signature. God commits to being faithful and always with His people by His great name. We might sin, but He never forsakes us. We might become lukewarm, but He does not abandon us. We might desert Him, but He never deserts us. His commitment to us is not mercurial or temperamental, but it is concrete, compassionate, and constant.
We see the connection.
“Because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.” Peter said that we were once not a people, but now are the people of God. We went from being unknown to having distinction. We went from being nobodies to becoming somebodies. As His people, we are kings and priests with Him. As His people, we are special, peculiar, and most importantly, His family. We have a connection to God through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. He is our Father in Heaven Who promises us that nothing shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. We have a connection that dedicated, devoted, and durable.
We see the carving.
“Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me” (Isaiah 49:16). When a person demonstrated his love and devotion, he would go to the extreme of engraving the other person’s name or face into his hands. This would be a painful process, and once engraved, it could not be removed. This action powerfully demonstrates the fact that God will never forsake His people. Our names and faces are etched into the palms of His hands. I think of the nails that were driven into Jesus' hands and left permanent wound marks as a testimonial that our Lord never forsakes or forgets us.
We see the courage.
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:5-6). We can take great courage in the commitment of our Lord to be faithfully with us and that He will never forsake us. In sickness or health, in good times or bad times, in life or in death, we can boldly say that the Lord is our Helper. Rejoice this morning that we are never forsaken!
Have a confident God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 1 Corinthians 12-14
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