Steadfast Love and Faithfulness

For Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Proverbs 20:6

Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love,
but a faithful man who can find?

This is a proverb that would have been as an arrow into the heart of Peter, who after proclaiming his willingness to die for his Lord, denied him a few hours later. It is a proverb that haunts us all. Over and again we profess our steadfast love for God, and then each day betray ourselves consciously or unconsciously through our sins. We might remain faithful to our tasks of service but are unfaithful in our hearts as we sin in the midst of our service.

Who is faithful? Who has put his hand to the plow and not looked back? Who has stepped out upon the water and not looked at the waves about him? Who in honesty can say that his love has always been steadfast?

All the more then to look to the steadfast love of the Lord and his faithfulness.

For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness (Psalm 26:3).

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds (Psalm 36:5).

As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! (Psalm 40:11)

For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds (Psalm 57:10).

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night (Psalm 92:1-2).