During the Jesus Movement of the 1960's and 1970's, there was a great emphasis during those days on Jesus being our Friend. Jesus certainly is our Friend—He's been my dearest Friend for more than fifty years—but He's also our Savior and our Lord...and He’s something else. To better understand this something else, let's listen to a passage from Lamentations:

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” (Lam. 3:21-24)

These words, written by the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah, are so very hopeful! Let's listen that second sentence again: "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail." In other words, because of our sin and rebellion, you and I deserve to be consumed. Why are we not consumed? Because of the Lord's great love and compassion. Jeremiah reminds us that despite our daily failings, each morning when our bare feet hit the floor, the Lord offers us new compassion. How should you and I respond to His compassion? Jeremiah responds this way: "I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.'" The biblical concept of a "portion" has to do with inheritance and security. By saying, "God is my portion," Jeremiah is saying that God is his source of all that is good. He’s not just my Savior and Lord, He’s my portion in my daily life. And more importantly, my portion in the life to come—the inheritance that ultimately matters. Relationships, wealth, health, and all other desirable things in our lives may fail, but we can say with confidence: " The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

When the Lord is our portion, we have a never ending supply of hope. When you and I greet the new day, we can embrace God as our Friend, our Savior, our Lord and our Portion forever...and that is very Good News!