Today was a beautiful day – sunny and warm, although it was quite windy. This morning, I saw the weather forecast as I typically do each morning and saw that the next couple of days are going to be quite cold again temporarily before it is supposed to warm up again for a lovely, warm Easter weekend. It’s amazing sometimes how quickly circumstances – like weather and other things – can change.
God’s Word tells us that He does not change. I take great comfort in this knowledge. One of my favorite verses about it is this:
James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
God’s character does not change. Yet, because we are individuals, sometimes He reveals Himself to us in different ways because the way that I can best understand may not be the way that you can best understand. So, our Father God who knows our hearts and minds and personalities, reaches out to us in ways that are appropriate to each one of us, but God Himself does not change.
Psalm 102:27 But You are the same, and Your years will never end.
In other words, God remains the same – for eternity! (Those exact words are also quoted in Hebrews 1:12b.)
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Yet we are changed by our relationship with Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
As we repent and submit to Jesus and His work in us, the greater the transformation in this life. The transformation that will be ours when we are in His presence for eternity – well, we can’t yet know or understand how amazing and wonderful that will be.
1 John 3:1 See how glorious a love the Father has given us, that we should be called God’s children—and so we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 2 Loved ones, now we are God’s children; and it has not yet been revealed what we will be. But we do know that when it’s revealed, we shall be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Lord Jesus, I am so grateful that You do not change. At the same time, I am so grateful that You have changed and are changing me. “Heal my heart and make it clean, open up my eyes to the things unseen, show me how to love like You have loved me.” This Holy Week and everyday, may this be the focus of my life – to be open to the changes You desire in me – to be willing to be molded and shaped by You as clay in the Potter’s hands. I submit to You and pray in Your name and for Your sake, Amen.