Steady

SCRIPTURE:  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 ESV

THOUGHT: Are you ever bothered by an inability to just be steady? I am. I mean, I’m not expecting a perfect, even keel – one that would be akin to the doldrums, something a sailor never wants to see. I’m certainly not looking for a blunted ability to feel things – if I were, there would be plenty of doctors bending over backwards to issue pills. I just deeply believe that our faith is a rock on which we can stand. And having done all, we can still stand. Paul told the Ephesians, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm (6:13).”

But, just being honest, some days the rock seems far above me, and the whole armor of God too heavy. My strength to crawl up there just isn’t enough. I guess those are the moments to drop back to “underneath are the everlasting arms (Deut. 33:27).”

So, I go from day to day and moment to moment, quoting great promises to myself and all the time wishing I was more like Jesus, the same yesterday and today and forever.

What does that really mean for us humans? I think it means gospel. “Good news,” as Jesus said in his first sermon, “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:18-19 NIV).”

So, when you or I feel poor, or trapped, or like we can’t see what we need to see, or oppressed by the ancient Accuser himself – that Jesus, who is still the same, said we have favor with the most important person in the universe, God. That makes me a little steadier.

PRAYER: Oh God, steady our steps with the gospel. You don’t change and neither does your son.