Welcome back to the series “New Ways to Enjoy Life with Christ”. Kahapon, natutunan natin na kahit sa gitna ng mahihirap na sitwasyon, we can expect God to bless us. That’s because of His grace and His love for us. Speaking of God’s love, that’s the focus of our devo today.

Pag-ibig mo, Yahweh, ay hindi nagmamaliw; kahabagan mo’y walang kapantay. Ito ay laging sariwa bawat umaga; katapatan mo’y napakadakila.

Mga Panaghoy 3:22–23

Mahilig ka ba sa bago? Do you still remember the first day excitement of going to school after the summer break? Nagbibilang ka ng araw bago ang pasukan. Sabik ka nang gamitin ang bagong notebooks, bagong sapatos, at bagong uniform. If you didn’t do well the past school year, you promise yourself and your parents na this time, you will study harder. If you are already working, comparable to this feeling is when you are about to report for your first day at your new job.

There is something about the new that excites us. It gives us a chance to hope that maybe this time, things will be better. For us who believe in God, we are not just hoping against hope. Hindi lang ito wishful thinking. Do we have this same attitude for this new year?

In the book of Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah offers profound hope to the people of Israel. At that time, dahil sa patuloy na paglabag ng Judah sa kalooban ng Diyos, the city of Jerusalem was being destroyed. They were already warned by God against idolatry but they were still guilty of committing it. Sa gitna ng judgment ng Panginoon, nangibabaw pa rin ang kabutihang-loob Niya. In fact, Jeremiah speaks of the hope that God will deliver them. He described God’s mercy as being available and new every morning. The weeping prophet chose to highlight not the suffering they were experiencing but the mercy from God that they were getting.

Sa lahat ng bago na puwede nating ma-experience, the newness of God’s mercy every day is what should excite us the most. As sure as the sun will rise again tomorrow, His goodness will be there.

Bukas, mararanasan na naman natin ang pag-ibig at habag ng Diyos. At bukas patuloy ang ating series na “New Ways to Enjoy Life with Christ”. Abangan!