“…I trust in your 1unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.” (Psalms 13:5)
There I was, a 29-year-old sinner, addicted to drugs and alcohol, just entering my private restroom at work. I closed the door and started to turn around, then someone put their arms around me and said: “Bill, I love you!” Suddenly, I was filled with a tremendous feeling of shame and sorrow, so I dropped down to my knees, using the toilet as my altar, and cried out: “I am sorry!” and I felt this wonderful “lifting” of a huge burdensome weight from me as the Lord forgave me and made me His child!
How could He do this? I was such a horrible sinner! Well, you see, God’s love is unfailing: 1chêsêd: merciful, goodness, kind-heartedness, faithfulness or lovingkindness. No matter how utterly evil we may be, God’s love is just so much more “unfailing!” “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over ONE SINNER who repents.” (Luke 15:10). As I look back over these forty-five years of service for the Lord, Pastoring for seventeen years, serving at the International Offices for COGOP for nine years, teaching and serving as a chaplain for the Cleveland High School football team for fifteen years and then for these past four years writing a daily devotion, joyfully sharing the Word of God! Oh, how I wish I could better express that: “…my heart rejoices in your salvation.”
Be very blessed today…Bill Stockham