What are the most amazing changes have you seen during your lifetime?
If you know someone in their eighties or nineties, that’s a question that will give you astounding answers. I heard about a voicemail greeting that said, “I am not available right now because I am making some changes in my life. Please leave a message. If I do not return your call, you are one of the changes.โ But despite the massive changes of multiple people in many areas, some things never change. This morning, we’ll look at some of both!
But first, welcome to “Mornings with Bishop Robert,” I’m really glad you’ve decided to join me today. My goal is to introduce people to the Jesus they never knew, and help them get to know Him and His word personally – and better ! If our time together today speaks to your heart, then let me invite you to like, subscribe and share it with a friend!
You’d laugh out loud today if you could see the number of technical devices I used to carry when I first began working in Israel. Naturally, I had a mobile phone. But I also carried a Tom-Tom; not the drum, the GPS device that would help me get from point A to point B. The ability to take pictures was a requirement, so I carried a digital camera; smartphones were just beginning to incorporate cameras and their quality was terrible. Finally, being a hopeless techie, I also had a PDA. I took to leaving my shirt untucked because otherwise my belt made Batman jealous. Today, one device replaces every one of those things, and does a much better job than any of them ever could.
Today’s verse says JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER.
We live in a world where rotary-dial phones attached to walls have been replaced by touch screen devices we can carry in our pocket. It used to be that multiple families shared the same phone number, it was called a party line; and now individuals have multiple phones to segregate their calls. Today’s Sony Walkman can pre-load gigabytes of music and deliver your songs to wireless earbuds with crystal-clear sound, but when it was introduced in July of 1979 the original Walkman only played cassette tapes through wired headphones.
But in a world where planes, trains and automobiles are always changing, it’s good to know that some things are unchangeable.
I don’t know about you, but I’m glad that God never changes. God is not man, that he should lie; He always speaks truth to us. He’s not like you and me, changing our minds – sometimes for very foolish reasons. No, God isn’t like that. He’s reliable. What He has said He will do, He does. Once He has spoken, He keeps His word. He says, “I the Lord do not change.”
Do you know why that’s so important? It means His laws never change. His judgements are always fair and righteous. He doesn’t make one decision today and then change His mind tomorrow. And, most importantly, His love never ceases and His mercies never come to an end. Day after day He loves and forgives. Morning after morning He renews His tender care for us.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER
Jesus loved us enough to come and open the way of salvation. He is our savior – yesterday, today and forever. Followers of Jesus will never have to carry the burden of their own sin. He took it, he took all of it, and He will carry our burden forever.
Jesus loves us enough to invite us into a close and intimate relationship of grace. He is the lover of our soul – yesterday, today and forever. Forever faithful, He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. We are secure in our relationship with Him. Nothing can rip our hand out of HIs loving grasp.
Jesus will love us throughout time eternal. As we mature and become more like Him, our love for Him will grow. His love for us will never grow, because it is already boundless. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and chooses to love us as we are even as He conforms us more and more into His image so that we become like Him.
Yes in a world where there may be no other absolutes, it’s good to know that some things are unchangeable.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER