Grace For The Journey

  How well are you doing in dealing with the winds of change that are blowing through your life right now – both personally and professionally?

Someone has observed that the only people who like change are wet babies!  Every parent can testify to this truth.  Kay and I sure can, having had four babies to change over the years.  One of our daughters would be crying for no apparent reason, but as soon as the wet diaper was removed and a dry one put on, calm would return . . . but not for long!

The writer of Hebrews tells us that the only constant in the world is Jesus.

Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

What a comfort for all of us who are

Experiencing disruptive change in our lives:

To know that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and for all eternity.

That doesn’t mean Jesus is manageable . . . or even predictable!  C.S. Lewis writes in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, when Lucy asks Mr. Beaver about Aslan, the coming King: “Is he – quite safe?  I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion . . . ” ‘Safe?’ said Mr. Beaver . . . ‘Who said anything about safe?  ‘Course he isn’t safe. But He’s good.’”

Indeed, our great, coming King, the Lion of Judah, is great; and He is good – and He can be trusted for the good that is the inevitable result from every kind of change for those who love God (Romans 8:28).

As our understanding of the Gospel deepens, we grow in our ability to accept change and even to embrace it as God’s divine providence passing through nailed-scarred hands – delivered to make us more like Jesus.  We are to rejoice in the salvation He has purchased for us . . .

The Bible says in 1 Peter 1:6-7, “Though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

With Jesus seated on the throne of our lives, we can give up our need for control and predictability, as we walk by faith and not by sight.   At this level of living, we can love Jesus with zeal and serve Him with abandon.

Jesus Christ as our only constant

Means that He always was,

Always is, and always will be.

His finished work is still finished.

We cannot enhance it

Nor diminish it by anything

We do or don’t do.

He is the surety of all covenant blessings and the faithful fountain that pours out continually upon His people.

When change casts you into the middle of the Jordan at flood stage, this unchanging truth empowers you to look confidently toward heaven, as David did, and say, “I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”  When change drives you to the edge of the Red Sea with no apparent way out, this unchanging truth empowers you to receive and rest in these words of Moses, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord” (Exodus 14:13).

The One who never changes

Is working through

All of the changes

In your life,

Bringing you to the end of yourself

Through the incessant winds of change;

He will not stop until

His perfect work is done.

Instead of cursing, or dreading, the changes in our lives, let us cry out to Jesus for the grace to embrace them, being confident that we are heading into an eternity where the winds of change will blow no more.0

I enjoy the way the Amplified Bible renders Romans 4:20-22 , “No unbelief or distrust made [Abraham] waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised. That is why his faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God.”  Now that brings a calmness to my heart!  I pray today’s blog does the same for you!

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”