DEVOTION
11/18/05

(comments in parentheses and emphasis are mine)

TODAY’S THOUGHT:

As I have put this life aside in the pursuit of knowing God personally; in the pursuit of walking as Yeshua (Jesus) walked, something has become glaringly apparent … God’s Word never changes. Instead, it appears, man has changed it to fit his desires of the flesh (sinful nature).

We must never forget … if God were to change His Word, He would be a liar and untrustworthy. Our faith would be meaningless, because God would be fallible like us.

I believe that God’s Word is a revelation of who He is and of His glory. Since the beginning of time, God is simply revealing more of Himself … He NEVER takes away or changes the foundation, but builds upon it. (Remember Yeshua (Jesus) claiming many times, “You have heard it said, but I say ________”? He did not change the command, but revealed more of the command. Actually, He raised it to a higher level! Don’t even sin in your heart.) In the beginning (in the book of Genesis), God is introducing Himself to us. All the books that follow are built upon that foundation and the writings that precede them. For example, the Book of Psalms does NOT take away from the book of 2 Samuel, which doesn’t take away from Leviticus. Likewise, the book of Acts does not take away, but builds upon the book of Mark, which follows along with the prophesy of the book of Isaiah, etc, etc…. Each book enhances and reveals more about the books that came before it.

We must understand that the God who created the world is the same God who called out the Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and gave Jacob the name Israel. This is the name, as we find out later, that is given to ALL of His children living by faith (whether a Jew or a Gentile) … Romans 9:6-8. We find God revealing in Jeremiah 3:8 that not all of the Jews were true Israel, but only those living by faith. God’s story, or revelation of Himself, continues as He sends His Son as the true Passover Lamb (the ultimate sacrifice of Himself for us). Likewise, we will not see God totally revealed until He returns (1 Corinthians 1:7 … “ … as you eagerly wait for our Lord Yeshua (Jesus) Christ to be revealed.”). So the story continues, as His children, through the sanctifying work of HIS Spirit, become blameless and walk as He did. This is to GOD’S glory, not our own!! God does not change; we, however, should be continually changing to become more like HIM.

- Hebrews 13:8 … “Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ) is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
- Numbers 23:19 … “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind.”
- 1 Samuel 15:29a … “He who is the glory of Israel does NOT lie or change His mind.”

WHO CHANGED, THEN?

Let me ask you:

- Does God no longer mind disobedient children now that His Son has come? (John 14:23-24)
- Are we free to sin and disobey God now that His Son lived out the Torah perfectly? (Hebrews 10:26-29 and 1 John 3:6)
- How about His laws and commands, did He change any of them? (Matthew 5:17-18)?

Did God change? No, not at all! His children are the same as they were before the Messiah … those living by faith and given the name Israel. (Remember the two greatest commandments that summed up ALL of the Torah (Law)? Who were they given to? Although many today claim them as being new commands, they were actually given to Israel by the Messiah!! Let us look at Mark 12:28-31 … Now Yeshua (Jesus) was asked what the most important Commandment was. Let me start with verse 29 and who it is to … “The most important one,” answered Yeshua (Jesus), “Is this: ‘Hear, O ISRAEL, YHVH our God, YHVH is one. Love YHVH your God with all ……..’” Of course, this is nothing new to those hearing His Words. Remember … God does not change! In fact, our Messiah was quoting straight from the Torah (Law) … Deuteronomy 6:4-5 … “Hear, O ISRAEL: YHVH our God YHVH is one. Love YHVH your God with all …..” (He is talking to His children … who are saved by faith!)

Did God change? Of course not!! His house rules for His children are the same (same day of rest, same holidays, same eating habits and the rest … even the rule about standing up when an elderly person comes into the room … the same) … when God says “forever” … He means it.

Change? Man and his interpretations are what have given the impression that God’s Word has changed. God, however, is the same. To me, this is a comfort to know and He is someone I can count on not to lie to me.