Morning, December 12
Go To Evening Reading
“His ways are everlasting.”
Habakkuk 3:6
What he hath done at one time, he will do yet again. Man’s ways are variable, but God’s ways are everlasting. There are many reasons for this most comforting
truth: among them are the following—the Lord’s ways are the result of wise deliberation ; he ordereth all things according to the counsel of his own will.
Human action is frequently the hasty result of passion, or fear, and
is followed by regret and alteration; but nothing can take the Almighty
by surprise, or happen otherwise than he has foreseen. His ways are
the outgrowth of an immutable character , and in them the fixed and settled attributes of God are clearly
to be seen. Unless the Eternal One himself can undergo change, his
ways, which are himself in action, must remain forever the same. Is
he eternally just, gracious, faithful, wise, tender?—then his ways must ever be distinguished for the same excellences.
Beings act according to their nature: when those natures change, their
conduct varies also; but since God cannot know the shadow of a turning,
his ways will abide everlastingly the same. Moreover there is no reason
from without which could reverse the divine ways, since they are the
embodiment of irresistible might . The earth is said, by the prophet, to be cleft with rivers, mountains
tremble, the deep lifts up its hands, and sun and moon stand still,
when Jehovah marches forth for the salvation of his people. Who can
stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? But it is not might
alone which gives stability; God’s ways are the manifestation of the eternal principles of right , and therefore can never pass away. Wrong breeds decay and involves
ruin, but the true and the good have about them a vitality which ages
cannot diminish.
This morning let us go to our heavenly Father with confidence, remembering
that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in
him the Lord is ever gracious to his people.