GOD IS UNCHANGING

So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath . . .

Hebrews 6:17

Additional Reading: Numbers 23:19; Psalm 102:25–27; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17 (Optional: Malachi 3:6)

Duct tape was developed during World War II as a waterproof, rubber-based adhesive. Since then, duct tape has garnered a reputation for its durability. It’s such a durable material that it’s now commonly used by DIY crafters to make anything from formal dresses to canoes. In the 2015 movie The Martian, Matt Damon’s character even uses duct tape for repairs on Mars! Duct tape has its reputation because of its constancy and reliability. Its makers promise us that it is waterproof and durable, and they deliver—every time.

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Because God is unchanging, our faith has a firm foundation.

Today, we’re exploring God’s unchangeability—His constancy. God’s unchangeability refers to the fact that His character and eternal purposes don’t change. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is constant and reliable. This fact is very comforting in a world full of change and uncertainty. Because God doesn’t change, He can be trusted and relied upon absolutely.

The author of Hebrews says that when God desired to show the unchangeable character of His purpose, He guaranteed it with an oath. The author goes on to say that part of God’s unchanging nature is that it’s impossible for Him to lie. Not only can we trust Him absolutely, but we can also trust His word. If God said it, He will do it. If He promised it, it will come to pass.

While the Bible makes it clear that God’s character and purposes are constant, we also see that God responds to our actions, such as our prayers and our faith. But this doesn’t put the pressure on us, as if we need to pray just the right way or muster up enough faith from our willpower. Instead, a robust faith is possible because of the constancy of God’s character and the trustworthiness of His word. Pray with confidence this week, knowing that God’s response will be based on His unchanging character and eternal purpose.

BECAUSE GOD IS UNCHANGING,
OUR FAITH HAS A FIRM FOUNDATION.

NOTES

Write down your thoughts on today’s devotional. Pray that God will continue to speak as you reflect.

REFLECT

How does trusting in God’s unchanging character and word help you have robust faith?

How will knowing that God responds to you based on His unchanging character and eternal purpose impact the way you pray?

PRAY

So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath . . .

Hebrews 6:17

Lord, You are a safe dwelling place for all generations. You do not lie or fail to keep Your promises. Jesus, You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Because You are unchanging, I give You my anxieties and trust that my life is in Your perfect plan. I repent of when I have doubted and ask that You would grow my faith to trust You more. God, thank You for Your constant faithfulness! In Jesus’ name, amen.

ANG DIYOS AY HINDI NAGBABAGO

Ganito rin ang ginawa ng Diyos noon sa mga taong pinangakuan niya. Ipinakita niya sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng panunumpa na tutuparin niya ang pangako niya

Mga Hebreo 6:17 ASND

Basahin Din: Mga Bilang 23:19; Salmo 102:25–27; Mga Hebreo 13:8; Santiago 1:17 (Opsyonal: Malakias 3:6)

Ang “duct tape” ay nalikha noong Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig bilang isang pandikit na hindi nababasa at gawa sa goma. Simula noon, ang duct tape ay nakilala dahil sa tibay nito. Ito ay isang napakatibay na materyal kung kaya’t ito ngayon ay kadalasang ginagamit ng mga mahilig mag-DIY upang makagawa ng iba’t ibang mga bagay, mula sa mga pormal na damit hanggang sa mga bangka. Sa pelikulang The Martian na lumabas noong 2015, gumamit ang tauhan na ginampanan ni Matt Damon ng duct tape upang magkumpuni ng mga gamit sa Mars! Nagkaroon ng reputasyon ang duct tape dahil maaasahang hindi ito magbabago. Pinangakuan tayo ng mga gumawa nito na ang duct tape ay waterproof at matibay, at ito nga ang kanilang ginawa—sa lahat ng pagkakataon.

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Dahil ang Diyos ay hindi nagbabago, ang pananampalataya natin ay may matatag na pundasyon.

Ngayon, titingnan natin ang isa sa mga katangian ng Diyos na maaasahan nating hindi magbabago. Ito ay tumutukoy sa katotohanan na ang katangian at walang hanggang layunin Niya ay hindi mag-iiba kailanman. Mananatili Siyang pareho sa nakaraan, sa kasalukuyan, at sa habang panahon. Siya ay maaasahan at hindi magbabago kailanman.

Ang katotohanang ito ay nagbibigay ng kapayapaan lalo na sa mundo na puno ng pagbabago at kawalan ng katiyakan. Dahil hindi nagbabago ang Diyos, maaari tayong magtiwala at umasa nang ganap sa Kanya.

Sinabi ng sumulat ng liham sa mga Hebreo na kapag ninais ng Diyos na ipaalam na ang Kanyang layunin ay hindi nagbabago, ibinibigay Niya ang katiyakan sa pamamagitan ng isang pangako. Sinabi pa niya na dahil sa hindi nagbabagong katangian ng Diyos, hindi Niya kailanman magagawang magsinungaling. Hindi lamang natin Siya mapagkakatiwalaan nang ganap, subalit magagawa din nating magtiwala sa Kanyang salita. Kapag sinabi ito ng Diyos, ito ay Kanyang gagawin. Kapag ipinangako Niya, Kanya itong tutuparin.

Bagama’t malinaw sa Bibliya na ang katangian at layunin ng Diyos ay hindi nagbabago, nakikita rin natin na ang Diyos ay tumutugon sa ating mga ginagawa, gaya ng pananalangin at pananampalataya. Subalit hindi ito nangangahulugan na sa atin nakasalalay ang mga bagay na para bang kailangan nating manalangin nang tama at ipunin ang ating sariling lakas upang magawa nating manalig sa Kanya. Sa halip, ang malakas na pananampalataya ay posible lamang dahil hindi nagbabago ang Diyos at maaasahan natin ang Kanyang salita. Manalangin nang buo ang loob ngayong linggo, dala ang kaalaman na ang tugon ng Diyos ay naaayon sa Kanyang hindi nagbabagong katangian at walang hanggang layunin.

DAHIL ANG DIYOS AY HINDI NAGBABAGO,
ANG PANANAMPALATAYA NATIN AY MAY MATATAG NA PUNDASYON.

MGA NATUTUNAN

Isulat ang mga naisip mo tungkol sa debosyonal ngayong araw. Ipanalangin na patuloy na mangusap sa iyo ang Diyos habang lalo mong pinag-iisipan ang mga ito.

PAG-ISIPAN

Paano nakatutulong ang hindi nagbabagong katangian at salita ng Diyos upang magkaroon ka ng malakas na pananampalataya?

Ang Diyos ay tutugon sa iyo ayon sa Kanyang hindi nagbabagong katangian at walang hanggang layunin. Paano maaapektuhan ng katotohanang ito ang paraan mo ng pananalangin?

MANALANGIN

Ganito rin ang ginawa ng Diyos noon sa mga taong pinangakuan niya. Ipinakita niya sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng panunumpa na tutuparin niya ang pangako niya.

Mga Hebreo 6:17 ASND

Panginoon, sa Iyong piling, kami ay ligtas sa lahat ng henerasyon. Hindi Ka nagsisinungaling o kaya ay nagkukulang sa pagtupad ng Iyong mga pangako. Jesus, hindi Ka nagbabago kahapon, ngayon, at magpakailanman. Dahil sa Ikaw ay hindi nagbabago, ibinibigay ko sa Iyo ang aking mga alalahanin at ako ay naniniwala na ang aking buhay ay nasa Iyong plano na walang anumang kamalian. Nagsisisi ako sa lahat ng panahon na ako ay nag-alinlangan at hinihiling ko na palakasin Mo ang aking pananampalataya upang lalo pa akong magtiwala sa Iyo. O Diyos, salamat sa Iyong hindi nagbabagong katapatan! Sa pangalan ni Jesus, amen.

GOD IS UNCHANGING

So God gave his word when he made his promise. He wanted to make it very clear that his purpose does not change. He wanted those who would receive what was promised to know this.

Hebrews 6:17 NIRV

Have you ever seen a compass? It is a tool used by soldiers, scouts, campers, and adventurers when they travel outdoors. The compass can tell you where north, south, east, and west are, so that you can read a map correctly. How does this work? A compass always points in the same place: What is called the “magnetic north.” Soldiers trust their lives to this compass. But as a matter of fact, the magnetic north changes gradually through the centuries. If they trust their lives to this compass, how much more can we trust God, who doesn’t change at all?

Unlike the magnetic north, God has not changed, is not changing, and will never change. That’s how much we can trust Him. He is always good. His great plans for you do not depend on what you do, but on His faithfulness. They won’t change even though these plans seem impossible right now.

The Bible is the word of God, and it has never, ever changed either. What God has spoken will always remain. What He promised us in the Bible will never change. The phrase “set in stone” means that a thing will never change; it is permanent. God’s promises for us are set in stone. That means that any promise from the Bible will surely come to pass.

I CAN TRUST GOD BECAUSE HE NEVER CHANGES.

REFLECT

What are some of God’s promises in the Bible that you can hold on to? Write down one or two of God’s promises from the Bible that you are praying for. Be in faith that because God is unchanging, these promises for you are set in stone and will come to pass.

Pray and declare that your faith will grow stronger, knowing that God and His promises will never change.

PRAY

Dear God, thank You that You are a safe place for me to run to. You are a promise-giver and a promise-keeper. You have the greatest promises for me and You fulfill them at the most perfect time. Because You are unchanging, I know that Your love for me doesn’t change. That is why I can trust You. Help me to trust You better each day. In Jesus’ name, amen.