Unchanging, Packer's Morsels
I had time last night to pick up J. I. Packer's Knowing God that's been waiting on my nightstand the last few months. Funny how the bookmark opened the pages to display truths that are very relevant in my/our lives right now, regarding the importance of God's truth and the comfort in hard times. He's got short sections about how God is unchanging: God's life does not change, God's character does not change, God's truth does not change:
"People sometimes say things that they do not really mean, simply because they do not know their own mind; also, because their views change, they frequently find that they can no longer stand behind things that they said in the past. All of us sometimes have to take back our words, because they have ceased to express what we think; sometimes we have to eat our words because hard facts refute them.
The words of human beings are unstable things. But not so the words of God. They stand forever, as abidingly valid expressions of his mind and thought. No circumstances prompt him to recall them; no changes in is own thinking require him to amend them."
God's ways do not change:
"He continues to act toward sinful men and women in the way that he does in the Bible story. Still he shows his freedom and lordship by discrimination between sinners, causing some to hear the gospel while others do not hear it, and moving some of those who hear it to repentance while others are left in their unbelief. thus teaching his saints that he owes mercy to none and that it is entirely of his grace, not at all through their own effort, that they themselves have found life.
Still he blesses those on whom he sets his love in a way that humbles them, so that all the glory may be his alone. Still he hates the sins of his people, and uses all kinds of inward and outward pains and griefs to wean their hearts from compromise and disobedience. Still he seeks the fellowship of his people, and sends them both sorrows and joys in order to detach their love from other things and attach it to himself. [...] He does not at any time act out of character. Our ways ... are pathetically inconstant - but not God's."
These sounds like HARD things to accept/swallow, right? That God sends us pains, griefs, sorrows, and joys? But the Scriptures say that HE DOES IT (once you have this on your radar, you'll see it EVERYWHERE). Some of my favorites include but are not limited to Psalm 119:71,75 // Exodus 4:11 // Deuteronomy 32:19 // Job 2:7,10 // Hebrews 12:5-11 // 2 Corinthians 1:9 // 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
But when you have experienced this and are familiar with his rod and staff, they are very much a comforting thing!! He does not leave his children undisciplined! He is the perfect Father, therefore disciplines us perfectly.
"People sometimes say things that they do not really mean, simply because they do not know their own mind; also, because their views change, they frequently find that they can no longer stand behind things that they said in the past. All of us sometimes have to take back our words, because they have ceased to express what we think; sometimes we have to eat our words because hard facts refute them.
The words of human beings are unstable things. But not so the words of God. They stand forever, as abidingly valid expressions of his mind and thought. No circumstances prompt him to recall them; no changes in is own thinking require him to amend them."
God's ways do not change:
"He continues to act toward sinful men and women in the way that he does in the Bible story. Still he shows his freedom and lordship by discrimination between sinners, causing some to hear the gospel while others do not hear it, and moving some of those who hear it to repentance while others are left in their unbelief. thus teaching his saints that he owes mercy to none and that it is entirely of his grace, not at all through their own effort, that they themselves have found life.
Still he blesses those on whom he sets his love in a way that humbles them, so that all the glory may be his alone. Still he hates the sins of his people, and uses all kinds of inward and outward pains and griefs to wean their hearts from compromise and disobedience. Still he seeks the fellowship of his people, and sends them both sorrows and joys in order to detach their love from other things and attach it to himself. [...] He does not at any time act out of character. Our ways ... are pathetically inconstant - but not God's."
These sounds like HARD things to accept/swallow, right? That God sends us pains, griefs, sorrows, and joys? But the Scriptures say that HE DOES IT (once you have this on your radar, you'll see it EVERYWHERE). Some of my favorites include but are not limited to Psalm 119:71,75 // Exodus 4:11 // Deuteronomy 32:19 // Job 2:7,10 // Hebrews 12:5-11 // 2 Corinthians 1:9 // 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
But when you have experienced this and are familiar with his rod and staff, they are very much a comforting thing!! He does not leave his children undisciplined! He is the perfect Father, therefore disciplines us perfectly.
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