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online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
&
Brooksyne Weber
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encouragement and exhortation.
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Wednesday, August 23,
2023
Whenever
possible to
get from Point
A to Point B I
use the back
roads.
Yesterday I
came up behind
these Amish
young people
(probably a
brother and
sister) on
Mountain Road
in northern
Lancaster
County
(Click on photo to enlarge.)
(Click on photo to enlarge.)
"God's
Immutability"
Message
summary: We
encourage our
readers today
with the
glorious truth
of God's
immutability.
We may feel
like we are
living on an
ever slippery
slope with all
the changes,
but today let
us fix our
hope on the
anchor for our
soul which is
firm and
secure, no
matter the
tidal waves of
change in our
society. All
may change but
Jesus never,
glory to His
Name!
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“I the Lord do not change” (Malachi 3:6). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
“I the Lord do not change” (Malachi 3:6). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
My
(Stephen's)
grandpa was
born in 1882
and died in
the early
70's. Like all
living a long
life he saw a
lot of changes
in the world
during his
lifetime. But
one that
illustrates
the rapidity
of change in
his lifetime
was that he
was living
when Wilbur
and Orville
Wright made
the first
manned flight
when he was
young and then
in his later
years
witnessed the
first man on
the moon.In
our lifetime
we have also
seen a lot of
changes and
more every
day. Many have
been good but
many have also
been bad. We
can easily get
distressed as
we witness the
increasing
rebellion as
people
distance
themselves
farther and
farther from
God.
Yet
it calms my
spirit when I
contemplate
the daily
passage from
Hebrews 13:8:
“Jesus
Christ is the
same yesterday
and today and
forever".
Since this
verse stands
alone in its
depth of rich
theology that
brings such
reassurance to
the soul, it’s
easy to
overlook the
context.
One interpretation is that it follows the thought from the previous verse, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (v.7). As such it has the sense of calling the reader to examine the faithfulness of leaders who have taught us the Word of God. Many times I have learned to deal with life’s undesirable surprises by watching an older saint or more mature believer walk through the crisis in a way that is a positive example to others and also honors God.
The Hebrews writer points us to the supreme example of faithfulness, the Lord Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday and today and forever. The strong winds of change that alter people’s views and affect their behavior is never evidenced in the personhood of the Lord Jesus Christ, not then, not now, not ever. As an old song states, "All may change but Jesus never". Just because the descent of humankind has now declared egregious behaviors legal in the courts of our land does not make it acceptable practice in the eyes of an unchanging God.
The other interpretation is that it precedes the thought from the verse that follows, “Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings” (v.9). I suppose every age has had strange teachings but now the means of distributing and spreading strange or false teachings has increased greatly. We need to anchor our faith in the solid, time-honored and tested truths of Holy Scripture and the immutable God.
Malachi, the final book in the Old Testament, and probably one of the lesser considered among the Scriptures, features this magnificent statement, “I the Lord do not change” (3:6). What a joy to realize that this is just as true today as it was some 2,400 years ago when God went on record concerning what theologians call His immutability.
The late Bible teacher A.W. Pink writes concerning this characteristic of God,
One interpretation is that it follows the thought from the previous verse, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (v.7). As such it has the sense of calling the reader to examine the faithfulness of leaders who have taught us the Word of God. Many times I have learned to deal with life’s undesirable surprises by watching an older saint or more mature believer walk through the crisis in a way that is a positive example to others and also honors God.
The Hebrews writer points us to the supreme example of faithfulness, the Lord Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday and today and forever. The strong winds of change that alter people’s views and affect their behavior is never evidenced in the personhood of the Lord Jesus Christ, not then, not now, not ever. As an old song states, "All may change but Jesus never". Just because the descent of humankind has now declared egregious behaviors legal in the courts of our land does not make it acceptable practice in the eyes of an unchanging God.
The other interpretation is that it precedes the thought from the verse that follows, “Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings” (v.9). I suppose every age has had strange teachings but now the means of distributing and spreading strange or false teachings has increased greatly. We need to anchor our faith in the solid, time-honored and tested truths of Holy Scripture and the immutable God.
Malachi, the final book in the Old Testament, and probably one of the lesser considered among the Scriptures, features this magnificent statement, “I the Lord do not change” (3:6). What a joy to realize that this is just as true today as it was some 2,400 years ago when God went on record concerning what theologians call His immutability.
The late Bible teacher A.W. Pink writes concerning this characteristic of God,
“Human
nature cannot
be relied
upon; but God
can! However
unstable I may
be, however
fickle my
friends may
prove, God
changes not.
If He varied
as we do, if
He willed one
thing today
and another
tomorrow, if
He were
controlled by
caprice, who
could confide
in Him? But,
all praise to
His glorious
name, He is
ever the same.
His purpose is
fixed, His
will stable,
His word is
sure. Here
then is a rock
on which we
may fix our
feet, while
the mighty
torrent is
sweeping away
everything
around us. The
permanence of
God’s
character
guarantees the
fulfillment of
His promises.”
We encourage our readers today with this truth. We may feel like we are living on an ever slippery slope with all the changes, but today let us fix our hope on the anchor for our soul which is firm and secure, no matter the tidal waves of change in our society. All may change but Jesus never, glory to His Name!
Be
encouraged
today,
(Hebrews
3:13)
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, we
thank You for
the sweet,
glorious
message that
simple faith
claims; that
yesterday,
today and
forever Jesus
is still the
same. For
still He loves
to save the
sinful, heal
the sick and
lame. Since He
cheers the
mourner and
stills the
tempest, we
give glory to
His
name.
Yesterday,
today and
forever Jesus
is the
same.
Everything
else changes
but Jesus
never, glory
to His name!
Be magnified
in our lives
as You daily
assure us that
You the Lord
do not change.
Amen.Prayer adapted from the hymn, “Yesterday, Today, Forever” by A.B. Simpson
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"Yesterday,
Today,
Forever"
Watch
video on
YouTube
Congregational
singing by
Faithful Word
Baptist
Church
(This is the
tune and way
we recall
singing it.
The original
song is by
A.B. Simpson)
"Yesterday,
Today,
Forever"
Watch
video on
YouTube
Passion,
Kristian
Stanfill (This
is a new song
with the same
title and
equally moving
lyrics.)
Standing
beside Ken
(owner) and
Phil (general
manager) at
Audreys, the
first company
we visited
yesterday
morning. I am
both the
oldest and the
youngest in
this photo.
See * below
the last photo
today to see
what I mean!
When
I arrived at
White Oak
Display later
in the morning
Ron and Rick
were having a
meeting but I
was able to
visit with
them for a few
minutes. Rick
leads the
company and
Ron is a
leader in
Convene, a
business
mentoring
group focusing
on honoring
God. Due to
changes in our
workloads I
don't see Ron
often but he
stays very
active for the
Lord in his
early 80's. If
you look
carefully at
the mission
statement
behind the men
you will see "Place
God at the
center of all
we do".
Amen to that!
Last
week we shared
about Jake
recently
(right)
who
injured his
hand on a saw.
Some of our
readers
responded by
assuring Jake
of their
prayers for
him. Yesterday
I caught up
with Jake as
well as Scott
and Brian, two
of Jake's
fellow
workers. Each
of them are in
the process of
overcoming
poor choices
from their
past. I gave
them a
challenge to
stay on the
right track
and follow
Christ! Scott
is showing the
tattoo on his
neck that
states, "God
Forgives".
Henry
always has a
big smile as I
greet him.
Yesterday he
was working on
the forklift
moving
pallets. Did
you know there
are roughly 5
billion
pallets in use
worldwide, an
estimated 2
billion in the
U.S. alone (as
of 2022).
After
our first
chaplain visit
I dropped
Brooksyne off
for a ladies
fellowship
which included
a nice
breakfast and
optional swim
in Donna's
back yard
swimming pool.
These are a
few of the
women from our
ABF at church.
*
The first
photo is of me
at Audreys
with two
leaders. I had
shared in a
devotional
message that
morning with
the employees
about it being
my spiritual
birthday
(August 22,
1971 when I
accepted
Christ). Later
when I saw
these men they
told me the
date they
chose to make
Christ their
Savior. Their
date pre-dated
mine. So in
the photo I am
the oldest in
chronological
age but the
youngest in
regard to
years of
serving
Christ!
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In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
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WEBER -
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CHAPLAINCY)
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and for those
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need an
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receipt. You
can also set
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recurring
donations.
In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
To
donate
directly
online
click here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering
to: STEPHEN
&
BROOKSYNE
WEBER -
700001-237376 SERVING
IN SPECIALIZED
CHAPLAINCY)
If
you desire you
can also
donate
directly
through PayPal
using this link.
This will open
to a page that
states
"Brooksyne
Weber". We
keep this
option
available due
to the
familiarity,
convenience,
for
international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
up for
recurring
donations.
Thank
you,
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
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iHeart
radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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