Daily Encouragement

Friday, December 29, 2023

Ducks on a pond near the Old Mill House Shoppes on Strasburg Pike

(Photo by Nick Nichols)

"Assurance For The New Year"

Message summary: Today we will consider a tremendous source of assurance for the new year, the immutability of God.

Listen to our message on your audio player. Yesterday they spray painted which was intermittently very loud. Today we have two deaf painters who are using rollers and brushes so we are able to do our podcast.

"But You remain the same, and Your years will never end" (Psalm 102:27). "I the LORD do not change" (Malachi 3:6). "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

This season with the passing of another year we especially think about change. Change is everywhere. One of the most dramatic examples of change is technology. My first computer was a used one I bought in the early nineties, an XT as I recall.

That was so exciting since several of my friends had been using computers for several years and I needed to catch up and get with the times! That began a succession of change with faster and better computers every few years. The computer on which I am writing this message is many, many times faster than those early computers, has far more memory, and yet costs me far less. That's a good change!

Bible teacher Bob Deffinbaugh writes,

"Some changes are welcome; some are not. A great comfort for the Christian living in these turbulent, troubled times is the confidence we have that God does not change. Theologians refer to this attribute of God as the 'immutability of God'. God does not change. This truth is referred to a number of times in the Scriptures and even in the hymns we sing in church."

An old hymn comes to mind we both recall from our Bible College chapel services that we rarely hear sung any more that has these words, "All May Change But Jesus Never".

Our year is coming to an end and another is about to begin. 2024 will arrive in several days and of course we are not sure what to expect. Will we have a change in national leadership here in the USA? What will the political changes bring? What evil plots do the terrorists have planned? What will happen in the Middle East? How will the economy affect our personal life? What about the fiscal cliff or, far more important, how about the moral cliff?

On a personal level, what changes will come in my life and family in 2024?

The end of a year is a great time to consider life's inevitable transitions and the Scriptural truths from our daily texts provide great assurance for such transitions. It's said that change is certain and from our perspective this is true. There will be change in our world and in your life in 2024. That's for sure. But today let us consider that which does not change!

The Psalmist is speaking of God in the first daily text when he writes, "But You remain the same". This speaks of the theological attribute known as the immutability of God, which is taught throughout the Bible. The immutability of God means that God is unchanging. More specifically, "God is unchanging in His character, His will, and His covenant promises."

C.H. Spurgeon writes,

"Consider what thou owest to His immutability. Though thou hast changed a thousand times, He has not changed once; though thou hast shifted thy intentions, and thy will, yet He has not once swerved from His eternal purpose, but still has held thee fast."

God declares in Malachi 3:6, "I the LORD do not change". Hebrews 13:8 proclaims that, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever". Many of us have found rich assurance in these lines from the ageless hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness":

"Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not.
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be."

The latter part of the first daily text states, "And Your years will never end". This speaks of the attribute known as the eternality of God. From eternity past to every changing moment we call "now", and throughout eternity future He is. Very soon this year will end and one day our physical existence on earth will end, but His years will never end. And the remarkable blessing is that He has made provision for us to live with Him for all eternity and thus our years will never end!

There are many changes on earth we may dread, but the certainty of a future in heaven with the King of kings is a change that fills us with a glorious hope as we enter the new year of 2024. As we go through life's transitions let us place our growing faith and steadfast hope in the immutable God's ever-faithful care! In doing so His grace will sustain us and His Word will guide us through another year.

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we are so very thankful for all the blessings we enjoyed over the past year of 2023. There were many opportunities for rejoicing and plenty of opportunities for trusting. Your mercies are renewed daily and Your provision is experienced in our lives each moment of every day. We seek You for guidance in the new year and growth in our daily Christian walk. Though we cannot know the future we can have assurance of Your faithfulness because You are a God that does not change. Every promise You've made is true as we have seen in the Biblical records. This gives us reason to trust You for the dawning of a new year where we will once again experience Your guiding presence in our daily lives. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Grace Alone" Watch on YouTube Maranatha! Praise Band

"Yesterday, Today, Forever" Watch on YouTube Voice of Spiritual Praises (This is the song that has the line "All May Change But Jesus Never".)

"Great Is Thy Faithfulness" Watch on YouTube Veritas

"Another Year is Dawning" Watch on YouTube Brooksyne's Note: During our many years of pastoral service we often sang "Another Year is Dawning" on New Year's Sunday. Frances Ridley Harvegal, also called the English poet and hymnwriter across the sea, wrote "Take My Life and Let It Be" and many other well-known hymns. She wrote a new year's poem every year for her Christmas cards and this one appeared 149 years ago on Dec. 31, 1874. We will sing "Another Year is Dawning" around our dining room table with our dear friends, the Lapp family, on New Year's Sunday to the tune of "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus". It's also sung to the tune of "The Church's One Foundation".

Another Year Is Dawning

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee;
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above;
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.

Note: We may write more about this song in our first 2024 message!

Further study:

What is the immutability of God? (from gotquestions.org)

What does it mean that God is eternal? (from gotquestions.org)

Yesterday I shared a message about being "Heaven-bound" prompted by seeing a sign for "Hell Bound Motorcycle" near Reading PA. Ed Berkey, my district superintendent from 30 years ago when I pastored a church in New England wrote:

Just read the "Daily Encouragement" on "Hell Bound Motorcycle" and it reminded me of when I was pastoring in Huntingdon, PA. I paid a visit to a lady's home, who along with 2 small boys, attended our church. I also wanted to share Christ with her unbelieving husband. She wisely excused herself to the kitchen and I counseled with him about his soul and need for Christ. He brashly responded, "Listen Preacher, my father went to hell and I'm going to hell too".

About a month later my wife, Gladys, and I were returning with our family late at night at the close of Youth Camp. Outside of town I stopped because of the flares on the road and a body lying there. Down over the bank was a big tractor trailer truck. The next night when the paper came out on the front page was the story and a picture of the tractor/trailer. On the grill in big letters were the words: "Hell's Angel"!!! Can you imagine how difficult it was to preach that funeral?

I called Ed last night and he affirmed that the man who died in the truck accident was the woman's husband who had rejected Christ during his visit a month earlier. It's a story that radio preacher C.M. Ward used! Ed is now 97 years old and has been preaching for 80 years. He was married for 75 years when Gladys went to be with the Lord several years ago. Ed is still active in ministry and told me he has his heavenly passport ready.

The call to Ed last night prompted me to call two additional elderly minister friends, Jack Provard and David Selleck, both also widowers in their 90's.

Yesterday we had Nick and Drema over to our place for a visit. Nick is a longtime friend and widower. Drema is a widow we met through Nick in the last several years as God brought them together. He's also the friend who broke his hip in a bike accident this last September but has recovered very nicely, walking only with a cane. He has worked hard in his physical therapy kept the victory throughout his trial.

Today we received a card from Marcia Barber, a long-time friend from the church we served in Massachusetts in the 90's. Marcia had been a part of the church for many years prior to our arrival but her husband Tony was not attending or serving the Lord at the time. What a blessing when Tony came to the altar to accept Christ a few years later. Tony joined the choir and was very helpful with church projects as an electrician. He passed away eight years ago.

The message on the front of Marcia's card was especially touching in regard to hope as we face another year:

Hope

Doesn't Come From

Predictions About The Future

The Promises Of Politicians

Or The Next Policy

Hope

Is Found in One Person

Who Was Born In A Manger

Died On A Cross

Rose From A Tomb

And Is Coming Again

Amen

Special Year-end Financial Appeal

We want to thank all who have financially supported our ministry this past year (and some for many years!). Like most ministries, we typically see a spike in giving at the end of the year for which we are most thankful.

We realize there are many fine ministries and causes requesting support at this time but if you would like information about making a donation to our ministry see here.

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.

You can send a check payable to "Daily Encouragement Net" to:

Stephen and Brooksyne Weber

495 Kraybill Church Road

Mount Joy, PA 17552

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Thank you,

Stephen & Brooksyne

Offerings YTD: $27,281.00

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