December 12

Morning

He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations; the ancient mountains crumbled; the perpetual hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting. — Hab 3:6 BSB

What God has done in the past, He will do again. Man’s ways may change, but God’s ways are everlasting. There are many reasons for this comforting truth, and among them are the following:

The Lord’s ways are the result of wise deliberation; He governs all things according to the counsel of His will. Human actions are often driven by passion or fear and are followed by regret or change. But nothing can surprise the Almighty, and nothing happens that He has not foreseen.

God’s ways also flow from His unchanging character, and in them, we can see the fixed and settled attributes of who He is. Unless the Eternal One Himself could change, His ways—which are simply His character in action—must remain forever the same. Is He eternally just, gracious, faithful, wise, and tender? Then His ways will always reflect those same qualities. Creatures act according to their nature, and when their nature changes, so does their behavior. But since God never changes, His ways remain eternally the same.

Moreover, no external force can alter His ways, for they are the manifestation of irresistible power. The earth is split by rivers, mountains tremble, the depths of the sea lift their hands, and the sun and moon stand still when Jehovah marches forth for the salvation of His people. Who can stop His hand?

But it is not just His power that gives stability to His ways. God’s ways are the expression of eternal principles of righteousness, and they can never fade away. Sin brings decay and ruin, but truth and goodness have a life force that no age can diminish. This morning, let us approach our heavenly Father with confidence, remembering that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. In Him, the Lord is always gracious to His people.

Evening

They have been unfaithful to the LORD; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their land. — Hos 5:7 BSB

Believer, here is a sobering truth: you are loved by the Lord, redeemed by His blood, called by grace, preserved in Christ Jesus, accepted in the Beloved, and on your way to heaven. Yet, “you have dealt treacherously” with God, your closest friend. You have been unfaithful to Jesus, to whom you belong. You have been disloyal to the Holy Spirit, who brought you to life!

How treacherous we have been in our vows and promises. Do you remember the love you had at first, the joy of your early days of faith? Oh, how closely you clung to your Master then! You said, “He will never accuse me of indifference! My feet will never grow weary in His service! My heart will never wander after other loves. Jesus alone is my treasure, and I will give up everything for His sake.”

Has it been so?

Alas, if your conscience speaks honestly, it will say, “He who promised so much has performed so poorly. Prayer has been rushed, short, and dry. Communion with Christ has been neglected. Instead of a heavenly focus, there have been worldly cares, empty vanities, and sinful thoughts. Instead of service, there has been disobedience. Instead of zeal, there has been lukewarmness. Instead of patience, there has been irritation. Instead of faith, there has been reliance on human strength. As a soldier of the cross, there has been cowardice, disobedience, and shameful desertion.”

“You have dealt treacherously.” Treachery toward Jesus! What words can adequately condemn such sin? Words are not enough—let our repentant hearts cry out against the treachery that surely lives within us. We have been unfaithful to Your wounds, O Jesus! Forgive us, and lead us not to sin again! How shameful it is to be disloyal to Him who never forgets us but stands even now with our names engraved on His breastplate before the eternal throne!