Begin with 2 minutes of stillness and silence before God.

If there’s one word that could accurately describe the world we are living in today, I think it would be “ever-changing.” Each day we wake up, it seems that there’s a new trend, a new technology, a new tragedy, a new teaching, or a new “truth.” As we are constantly tossed about in a fickle world, one verse from the final chapter of Hebrews remains a constant source of hope for us as followers of Christ. It’s a simple verse that I have found myself resting in often lately in the midst of a turbulent world. 

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 

As we reflect on all that we’ve read throughout our time in the book of Hebrews, we know that this is a reminder that the original audience would have greatly needed. The evidence we see is that they were facing persecution and wavering in their faiths. They were doubting the faithfulness of the Lord because of the ever-shifting world around them. These words give something of great permanence to cling to - the hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ! 

Today, these words serve to point us back to our unchanging Savior. When we face trials and tribulations, it can become so easy to doubt the goodness and promises of God. Just like in our earthly relationships, we have to really know someone and know their character in order to trust them. The way we grow in our faith and endure difficult circumstances is by knowing more of who God is. Psalm 9:10 says “Those who know the LORD trust him, because he will not leave those who come to him.” We can put our trust fully in God knowing that He is immutable. He is unchanging and unchangeable, and so are His promises, His perfection, His mind, His will, His nature, and His Word! I’m not sure about you, but that’s something I have to fervently cling to in order to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus! And the immutability of God isn't something mentioned once in Hebrews, it's a theme throughout all of scripture: 

“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Numbers 23:19 

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 

 “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 

No matter how drastically our circumstances change or our feelings falter, we must remember that the Jesus who saved us yesterday is the same Jesus who saves us today and saves us forever. We can trust Him absolutely because He is absolutely faithful! 

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence. 

 Reflection: 

• What encouragement do you find in the fact that we serve an unchanging God? How does His unchanging nature help you trust in Him more? 
  
• Commit to memorizing Hebrews 13:8 this week. Stick it on your mirror with a Post-it note, set it as your phone background, or practice saying it out loud each morning to commit God’s Word to your heart and focus on the fact that God will never fail or forsake you.  
  

Family Devo: Hebrews 13

By: Lauren Strickland

When partnering with your family to know, love, and follow Jesus, we strive to create and share content filtered by the Head-Heart-Hands model.   

Head: the knowledge of God and His Word | Heart: the personal connection from scripture | Hands: a missional mindset  

Head (Hebrews 13: 6-8)

We’ve made it to the final chapter of Hebrews! This chapter reminds me of how goodbyes go at our house before my son heads off to my mom’s house for the weekend. I give him a very looooong list of things to remember (pack your underwear, brush your teeth, remember to bathe, mind your manners, take your vitamins…).  

In Hebrews 13, the writer makes a list of things he doesn’t want Jesus Followers to forget to do (love others, show hospitality, remember those in prison and those who are mistreated, don’t love money, be content with what you have…). He also writes down two things he doesn’t want them to forget they already know —two things that (when we remember them) help us keep doing all the other things on his to-do list!

They are some of the most comforting words in the whole Bible. The writer reminds us, “…God Himself has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake (abandon) you.’” He says that God made us this promise, and He made good on this promise by giving us JESUS, Emmanuel (who’s name literally means, “God with us”) and by sending us The Helper —His Holy Spirit. The writer reminds us that because of this promise, we don’t have to worry about having enough or being enough, and we don’t have to live in fear of anyone or anything in this world.

The writer later adds that no matter what the world might tell us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” God doesn’t change like shadows or seasons, so even when our circumstances change, the Good News that Jesus Christ loves us and is with us no matter what, NEVER changes —even when sad or bad or hard things happen.

Heart

Suffering—sad or bad or hard things that happen in life—never means that God has left us or that He’s mad at us. NEVER! (Not when we have an argument with a friend or lose a pet, when we fail to make the team or make the grade, when a parent loses a job or a family has to move, when people we love get sick or die, or if parents divorce.) God NEVER leaves us and He always loves us. The book of Hebrews says over and over again that we are made right with God the moment Jesus saves us and this means that suffering is NEVER God’s way of punishing us! This is Good News, and it doesn’t change! No matter what we go through.  

So, even when things are difficult —God is still with you. He sees you and He cares about you. He is still strong. He is still good. He can even bring purpose from painful things. 

We can trust God when hard things happen, and we can trust Him with those hard things. You see, when God allows hard things to happen in our lives, he can bring good from them! Just ask Paul —that guy experienced many hard things! He wrote this in Romans 8:28, “…in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”  

Hands

God’s love for you NEVER changes—His love is as solid as a rock! Sometime today, make yourself a reminder of this truth. Find a rock and get a permanent marker. On that solid, unchanging rock write “Hebrews 13:8” as a reminder of the Good News that even when things are hard, or my circumstances change, Jesus stays the same —He loves me and sticks with me, no matter what.  

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I am thankful that You never change. No matter what I face, You are right here with me. Help me look for You in every situation I face. Help me trust You in all things.