Daily Devotionals

Bowen's Daily Meditations

Devotional: August 3rd

" Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever." - Hebrews 13:8.

Amidst the mutations of character, the fluctuations of time, and the vicissitudes of events, the soul longs for something that does not and that cannot change, to which it may attach itself and thus find compensation for all the mutabilities of which It is compelled to have experience in this world. There needs of course something else besides immutability in order to constitute an object worthy of our earnest attention and heart-felt confidence. We cannot desire immutability where there is anything less than perfection. But where the highest possible excellence resides, there unchangeableness becomes a thing greatly to be desired. Above all when we stand in a certain relation to this incomparable object; when the perfections of this unchangeable one are made available for us; when his power supplements our weakness; his wisdom our, ignorance; when he in all his plenitude of perfection is our own particular treasury from whence we may draw everlasting supplies. Then, Oh, then, let change approach him not, but stand respectfully beyond the circle drawn by his divine nature.

How vain were it to go everywhere preaching the gospel of the grace of God, of God’s grace incarnate in Christ, if Christ were not the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. Why should we go telling men of what Christ said and did to the leper, of his conversation with the woman of Samaria, of his instructions to his disciples, his rebukes addressed to the Pharisees, his demeanor in the presence of his enemies, his emotion at the grave of Lazarus, his kindness to sinners and publicans, his invitations to the laboring and heavy-laden, his affliction and agony in Gethsemane, his sufferance of indignities in the Praetorian, his prayer on the cross, and his words to the penitent thief; why should we go about telling men these things, if it were not that they occurred in the life of one who is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever?

Yes, this gospel is everlasting. It is not an ancient book; but the book of this generation. There is not the least trace of decrepitude about it. It blooms with immortal youth. By means of it Christ this very day approaches you, and reveals feelings that he entertains for you, entertains for you now, will ever entertain. An arch-angelic trump uttering in the skies the words, " Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," would not be to us any more reliable evidence of the present disposition of Him who sits upon the throne, than these same words in the Gospel afford. And it becomes us to be well aware of this as we peruse the gospel history or dwell upon its statements. Would not some find in their hand a new and wondrous gospel, radiant with a glory hitherto unsuspected, if they would begin to read it with this great truth firmly enthroned in their convictions, that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever?

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