Define It

Love
1. A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.
2. A person who is the object of deep or intense affection or attraction; beloved. Often used as a term of endearment.
3. The benevolent affection of God for His creatures, or the reverent affection due from them to God.


Next,

Steadfast
1. Firm in purpose, resolution, faith, attachment, etc.
2. Unwavering, as resolution, faith, adherence, etc.
3. Marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable

"The STEADFAST LOVE of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." -Lamentations 3:22-23

By looking at the number of times "steadfast" and "love" are in the concordance, I think God wants us to get this. Almost like He knows we are prone to forgetfulness and need reminding everywhere we look. Even in a book called Lamentations, the assurance of His devotion, his unwavering faithfulness can be found.

Romans 8:31-39, "(31)What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ...(35)Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tirbulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? (36)As it is written, 'For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.' (37)No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (38)For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, (39)nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

How's that for a picture of steadfast love? God is for us, no one can separate us, no one can break the bond that is love holding us to Him. We are frail, we are imperfect and won't be able to hold up our end, but He CAN. We can't do it! We can't love Him without fail, but HIS love is steadfast, HIS love is strong, HIS love is given to us, given by His own sacrificial act. What is man that He should love him?

Tonight, around midnight, the storm began. Just another late spring storm blowing through, but I went out on my porch just the same. Heat lightning lit up the clouds, but nothing outstanding happened. Even the rain was holding off. "Lord," I whispered, "may I see some cool lightning?" He heard my request. Standing behind the pillar, I watched the sky as skeletal hands of light reached across its dark expanse again and again. My eyes tried to keep guessing where the brilliant flash would come from next as my heart leaped with joy inside me.

When the magic of the moment was over, I fell into thought again, and forgot about the lightning in front of my eyes. I would stare blankly into space and when nothing was happening, I'd glance away to the street or a neighboring house, and just at those moments, a huge lightning bolt would strike and I'd miss the vision.

In a way, I was reminded of how this behavior reflected my spiritual walk. When I ask, He gives, and I try to remember to thank Him once I receive, just as I did when I first stepped outside. But once I forget about the gift and allow other things to take my thoughts, my attention, I end up missing some really cool things. Those times when I let the world satisfy my curiosity, to fill my ears with music, or when I am distracted, I become oblivious to what's going on in front of me. My propensity for glancing at the street and elsewhere displays this.

It isn't possible for me to stay attentive! I've failed, I can't do it. He has to do it for me, His, steadfast, love. He is the one who keeps me alive, He is the one who answers my call, He is the one I can ask for healing and whom I can depend on, He is the one who knew me and all my intricacies before birth, He is the one who has brought me to where I am,

HE. IS. GOD.

Being that it is almost three in the morning now, and church is in the morning, I shall close with these words from Job 38.

"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements - surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed'?
Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the skirts or the earth and the wicked be shaken out of it? It is changed like clay under the seal, and its features stand out like a garment.
From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken.
Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep?
Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this. Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness, that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home?
You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!"

"The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side. The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook. Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen." -Psalm 77:17-19