Daily Devotional for Saturday September 19, 2009
Immutable is One of Those Five Dollar Theological Words that Describes God
(Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8)
Immutable is one of those $5 theological words that describes an attribute of God. It is one of those attributes that allows us to keep our faith and trust in Him daily. It simply means "without change". That is why we can boldly say that the same God who brought you through the storm 3 months ago, is the same God who will bring you through the storm today. He doesn't change. That is why we can have confidence each day that God loves us. He doesn't change. It is the fact that God never changes that gives us the ability to go to John 1:9 when we sin and KNOW that He will forgive us and cleanse us. Part of the foundation of our faith is this wonderful truth that GOD NEVER CHANGES.
The point I want to focus on today, however, is that WE do change. Living in Florida these last 7 years, my wife and I often get away for a few hours and drive just a few miles from our home to the Gulf of Mexico. We often sit and talk, watching the tide roll in and out. I think how our lives are like the tide. Always moving, always changing. The challenge I want to give you today is this. Take a few minutes and get alone in a quiet place. Get some paper and a pen. Make a list of the following categories.
DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST - CHURCH FELLOWSHIP SERVING GOD, SPOUSE (if applicable), CHILDREN (if applicable), MOM, DAD, BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND (if applicable), FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, SCHOOL/WORK, FINANCIAL, HEALTH, RECREATION/HOBBIES, BONDAGES (such as alcohol, drugs, pornography, gambling, etc.). Now in each category, simply jot down notes as to where you were in this area 10 years ago, 5 years ago, 1 year ago, 6 months ago, and where you are now. Be honest, this is between you and God.
The point of this exercise will be apparent very quickly. WE change. We are not immutable. Unfortunately, much of our change is for the worse and not the better. It doesn't happen overnight, but over a period of time, just like the tide that slowly rolls in. It isn't even something we notice most of the time. Looking over your paper when you are done will clearly focus you on those areas of your life that you need to work on and make some changes in. This may seem like a waste of time, but trust me, God is speaking to you loud and clear as you read these words. He is trying to get your attention.
The 10 minutes it will take you to do this can be the difference between your relationship with Christ being all it can be or having little life in it. It can be the difference between a better marriage or divorce. It can be the difference between having good health or constant battles in that area. I am not trying to be over-dramatic, but the way we change over time, the subtle ways we change without even being aware of it, can lead to many of the problems you are dealing with today. These could be some of the most profitable minutes ever, as the Lord reveals to you those areas of your life that need to be worked on.
I love you, and I care about you so much. I realize many will resist this exercise for many reasons. Ultimately though it is because the enemy will try to stop you from having to face in black and white those things in your life that need changing. We get comfortable in our lives. Even when they aren't the way they should be. We get comfortable living with sin. It is like having a mouse in your house. You can't catch it, and it may even get to a point where you will try and live with it. My friend, it is time for a Holy Ghost extermination of those things in your life that shouldn't be there. The only thing keeping you from all the wonderful blessings God has for your life is YOU.
I will be praying this weekend that you will take the time to pray, put your life on paper, see those areas that you have moved away from God in, and give yourself a real and precise focus. I talk about game plans as a way of overcoming sin in our life. Once you complete this, you will then have identified those areas that need work. The next step is to formulate a game plan in order to get where God wants you to be in every area of your life. It won't be easy. It won't happen overnight. But over time, working faithfully daily and in the strength He can supply, you will see victory.
We can be thankful today that our God NEVER changes. We do. Now is the time to see the areas of our life that need to be changed for the glory of God!
In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ, Bill Keller