AN UNCHANGING GOD!

 

Sunday, February 28, 2021

 

AN UNCHANGING GOD!

 

Mal 3:6-9

6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord  of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

 

           Sitting in the shadows of the tithing issue is the important doctrine of the immutability of God. He is an essential being. He exists without cause and is Himself the cause of all things. From everlasting [before time] to everlasting [after time] He is God (Psalm 90:2).

 

           He is unchangeable in his attributes. There can be no increase or decrease in his power, wisdom, holiness, or love. We may understand them more or less but these never change.

 

           He is unchangeable in his purposes. Nothing catches Him off guard. He is not challenged by the suggestion of an improvement to His plans. He is not defeated by any supposed superior logic or argument. Those who cooperate with His plans are blessed by having their own plans succeed. Those who resist His plans fail in their own schemes.

 

           He is therefore faithful. Happy is the lender who lends to God for he has no fear of being repaid! Happy is the man who has Jehovah’s name upon a contract. The continued existence of the church is not due to her faithfulness but to God’s faithfulness. He who doubts the continuation of his salvation doubts the willingness and ability of God to keep promises. Verse 6 clearly states the case.

 

           Although God does not change, He is not an uncaring stone. He is relational and interactive. He is subject to appeal by those whom He loves. His heart is touched by our condition and He moves to remedy our faults and supply our needs. Why would a God who does not need us be so responsive to those who need Him? Yet everywhere we see God acting in compassion and mercy and we take courage knowing that this too never changes. “He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil” (Luke 6:35).

 

Heb 4:15-16

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 

Oh, unchangeable God! Hear our prayers when we call unto thee and let thy heart be touched by our condition. Be faithful to thy unfaithful ones. Be kind even though we are unthankful. Draw us to thy heart because you do not change. Establish us and make us like thyself. AMEN

THERE IS NO FREE RIDE!

 

Saturday, February 27, 2021

 

THERE IS NO FREE RIDE!

 

Rom 6:20-22

20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

 

           Subtle differences make the two words “free” very different indeed. In the Greek, the first “free” is the word eleutheros and means “to go at pleasure.” The second “free” is eleutheroo which is a similar but different word means “exempt from moral, ceremonial, or mortal liability.”

 

           The New Testament was written to a culture in which slavery was common. Paul dealt with the social problems relating to how a slave and a slave owner should treat one another if both became believers in Christ. It is easy to imagine that a once rebellious slave might become docile and a once harsh owner might become kind. Knowing Jesus makes such a difference. Today’s offended “cancel culture” would disavow the whole teachings of the New Testament because it does not openly condemn slavery but that was never its intent. The Bible was written not to control politics but to convert souls.

 

           You need to know that your free ticket to heaven is not free at all. It was purchased by the sufferings of the Son of God. It was a horrible price that He willingly paid because he saw value in you. Paul explained that, now that we have been made free from moral liability, we are free to serve Christ willingly.

 

1 Cor 6:20

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

 

Thank you Lord, for paying a price I could not pay. AMEN

NOT MANY!

 

Friday, February 26, 2021

 

NOT MANY!

 

1 Cor 1:26-29

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

 

Ø Not many wise sophos or clear.

Ø Not many mighty dunatos, powerful or capable.

Ø Not many noble eugenes, well born or high in rank.

Ø We might also add “not many rich.”

 

There is a verse that seems to fit well here also.

 

1 Tim 6:17

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

 

           I am not as wise as I would like to be and there has been too little time and money to gather diplomas and degrees for my wall. I am not particularly skilled in the tradesman’s arts and I was born of simple but hard-working people who endured the Great Depression. I’m not rich. I belong to a band of simple, common believers in a great God.

 

           Have you ever wondered why God refuses to bless His children with all these things? Wouldn’t we be more effective in our witness and our work if we had great education, wisdom, and wealth? Could we not be more influential if we were high born aristocrats? If we were rich, the work could move along much more quickly than it does.

 

           Certainly, God is able to give all these things to His children. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and could surely spare one or two. He could lay bags of gold at the doors of believers if He wanted to. He sent quails to feed the children of Israel in the wilderness – they ate so much that it came out their noses. Why does God keep us down, dumb, and poor?

 

           God knows that our sinful nature could not handle great wisdom, station, or wealth. We would become haughty, arrogant, proud, and stingy. We would not thank Him for any of the blessings and would think of God as useless. We remain dependent upon His wisdom, His ability, and His supplies because it is simply best. God does all things well.

 

Prov 3:5-10

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

 

Dear Lord, I have you and that is enough. I thank you that a great store of wisdom and wealth is dispensed to me as I need them. Help me to be a good and thankful steward. AMEN