Malachi 3:6

Verse of the Day Devotion: Malachi 3:6 

“For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.” – Malachi 3:6      

One of the most comforting things for me regarding God is the fact that is stated in this focus verse: that being God does not change.  He declared this to Israel (the sons of Jacob) because they had disobeyed Him, and He had not consumed or destroyed them.  His plan for mankind was from before the beginning, and He was going to complete this plan.  “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.” Revelation 13:8.  He knew those who would accept Him, and He also knew those who would not.  And He was/is consistent in this plan.  He will not change His mind.  “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Numbers 23:19.

Here are a couple of the many scriptures that speak of God as unchangeable.  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 3:8.  From eternity past through eternity future, God has not nor will He ever change.  He shall never question anything that He has done.  “But Samuel said to Saul, I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel. As Samuel turned to go, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you. Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.” 1 Samuel 15:26-29.  And finally, James puts it this way.  “Every good thing given, and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” James 1:17.

Because of His immutability we have confidence that everything spoken or written by God is still true and can be depended on.  We can therefore trust everything we read in His word.  Remember, in Genesis 3 where He declared the coming of the Messiah.  “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.” Genesis 3:15.  And as stated above in Revelation 13:8, Jesus’ crucifixion for our sins was declared before the world was created. 

Every prophetic declaration in the scriptures was or will be fulfilled as promised.  We should have no doubts about this.  And those of us who are true Christians should rejoice, because our future as told to us is a beautiful eternal existence in the presence of God.  And also, every word in the Holy Scriptures are still to be adhered to because He is unchangeable.  It is important that we spend time every day studying His Word and make what He has said the way we live.  It can be easy sometimes to fall into errant beliefs, which is why it is important to spend time everyday in prayer and study of the scriptures.  I have found it more than beneficial in my life. 

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

Psalm 119:9

Verse of the Day Devotion: Psalm 119:9 

“How can a young man keep his way pure?  By keeping it according to Your word.” – Psalm 119:9    

I want to first state that this is intended for all young men, basically any man who is still alive.  It should be applied to all men because we all can take the wisdom written here and put it into practice.  I would also go as far as state it should be applied by all people, either male of female.  The rhetorical question being asked is essentially, how can we keep ourselves pure before God? 

Lets look at this from the beginning of the chapter.  He starts out by declaring the following.  “How blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the LORD.” Psalm 119:1  Being pure and blameless is a good thing, it is what God desires of us.  He wants us to obey and follow His laws.  Not just for the law’s sake, but to please God.  We are to walk blameless and in obedience to Him.  And not only observe and keep His commandments, but also seek Him with our whole heart.  Not just to do things because we are commanded to, but because we love Him and desire to do what He commands.  We are to do no unrighteousness but walk in His ways.  (Psalm 119:3). 

But how can we do this?  As our focus verse states, how can we keep our ways pure?  He has a truly short answer for us.  “By keeping it according to Your word.” Psalm 119:9b.  We must know His Word before we can keep it, therefore, we must take the time to study His word, read His scriptures and put them into practice.  This is well exemplified in the following, “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11.  We must take God’s word and treasure it in our hearts and minds so that we can not only learn what we should do, but also what we should not.  And as Adam Clarke so clearly put it, “If God’s word be only in his Bible, and not also in his heart, he may soon and easily be surprised into his besetting sin.”

The world we live in is going quickly downhill regarding what it finds acceptable and good.  And there is no question that much that the world embraces is sinful and displeases the Lord.  Temptation abounds everywhere.  We must study His word regularly in order to learn what is good and what is not.  Satan will bring our way thoughts and desires that are not good.  And we may not even realize that something we do or desire is sinful.  This is why it is imperative that we dive into His word, read it, study it, and place it deep into our being and treasure it with all our heart.  Then, when we are tempted, we will know that it is wrong and it must be denied.  And if we apply these words of wisdom, “Then I shall not be ashamed When I look upon all Your commandments. I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments.” Psalm 119:6-7.

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William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.