The Lovingkindness of God (Part 1)

What I will do tonight is teach you on God’s loving-kindness—maybe tonight and even next week, the lovingkindness of God. Because as we are reminded of the transition from the Old Covenant to a close, and now we are in the New Covenant, many teachings on faith and obedience sometimes give us the impression that if we do certain things, God will bless us or reward us—and that is a true statement.

However, we all know there are plenty of times that we disobey the Lord.

Have you ever disobeyed the Lord?

Now when you disobey the Lord, does He stop blessing you? You have violated a covenant, the stipulation of the New Covenant—so how come God still blesses you? There are still measures of blessing even though at times we fail.

That is where the subject of God’s loving-kindness comes in.

Now we have to explain that carefully, because some people begin to think that because God is love, they can do whatever they want—but that is not balance. So we are going to look at all of those things.

The Bible tells us to declare His lovingkindness in the morning and His faithfulness by night. When you wake up and see the sun rising, you begin to proclaim that God’s lovingkindness will carry you through the day. And yet during the day, there are moments you fail Him—but you realize you are still preserved.

Why?

Because His lovingkindness and His faithfulness are at work.

Lovingkindness—hesed—is steadfast love. It is loyalty, it is favor, it is deeds of devotion. It is mercy, it is unfailing love. And you cannot talk about covenant without talking about lovingkindness.

Because nobody fulfills the covenant perfectly—old or new. The Bible says everyone is found guilty. That removes boasting. That is why lovingkindness is necessary—because it is the very thing that sustains and preserves us beyond our failures.