MALACHI 3:6a – “For I the Lord do not change…”                                                                                                                    HEBREWS 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

THEME OF THE DAY: HE CHANGES NOT.  Allow me to state the obvious; we live in an always changing world, and not necessarily for good.  We each may list the many things around us that change – our communities, culture, environment, society, lifestyles, and places of employment to name a few.

Something else changes, but it isn’t a thing. We change. Humans change. Yes, that too, is stating the obvious, and some of our changes are not good.  We change emotionally, and that often happens quickly.  And many relationships are damaged, even ruptured because of sudden and impulsive emotional changes that lead to impulsive words or actions causing great pain.

We also change mentally and physically.  Those changes could be sudden by an unforeseen accident, diagnosis of a disease or sickness.  Still yet are the mental and physical changes occurring as we age.  Who has not felt the slipping away, albeit slow, of mental alertness, memory, or the aches and pains that seem to appear out of nowhere?

Spiritually we are changing people too.  Hopefully, upward to more Christlikeness but not necessarily. There is a spiritual change that is not positive, and very dangerous. It is called spiritual backsliding and marked by two things. First, a loss of first love for Jesus – “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.  But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first” (Revelation 2:1-7).

Then the loss of first love for Jesus leads to the full-blown spiritual backslidden condition described in the letter to the church at Laodicea – “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:14-17)

Yet, with all the changes we observe and experience, there is a truth about change that is the anchor of the soul for the Christian. This truth calms troubled hearts, puts at rest racing minds, and brings the joy of a clear conscience.  It is the truth defined in both scriptures of today; our God never changes.  He never changes in His love towards us. He never changes in His purposes for us. He never changes in His mercy and sympathy towards us.  And He never changes in His promises to us.

In our ever-changing world, and ever-changing self, keep a steady eye on our unchanging Lord. To do so allows us to experience His power, presence, and promises which never change and are always available for us to appropriate by faith and live with joy.  

PRAYER:  Father, I praise You that you are my unchanging God who deals with me from Your unchanging Nature.

REFLECTION:  God never changes, yes, even in our many changes in life, He remains constant. Praise Him.