Tonight I would invite you to turn with me to that portion that we read from a few minutes ago in Hebrews chapter 13. And I want to take as my text verse number eight, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and forever. You will know that everything that has to do with this earth is stamped with change. The sun rises and it sets, the darkness falls, and the moon and the stars appear. Each day gives way to night, and then in turn, night turns into day. And not only does one day end and another begins, but one week goes into the next, and the weeks become months and the months years. Spring turns into summer, summer into fall, fall gives way to winter, and at the last, the winter becomes spring, and so it goes on. Everything that we know on this earth is changing and changeable. Society changes, and not always for the better, as we know. Nations and countries change, and places change. Nothing ever seems to remain the same. The hymn writer in the great hymn, Abide With Me, put it like this, change and decay in all around I see. We may have occasion at times to visit old scenes from earlier life and renew former associations. And I do that every once in a while when I go back to Northern Ireland. And I find that things are not what they used to be. We might visit the cities, the towns, the villages that we knew well in the days of our youth, and yet we find that things have greatly changed there. Some famous landmarks or buildings might still be there after these many years, but other things are different. There are new highways. There are new buildings. And we realize that things have really moved on in those once familiar places. And of course, people also change. It's often with great disappointment we find that when we are reacquainted with folks that we haven't seen for many years, that things have changed. They're not the same, and of course if you ask them, they would tell you that we are not the same either. Somebody stated, time makes furrows in the cheeks that were once full and dims the eyes that once flashed like jewels. The soul behind the eyes is also changed with the changing years so that neither the form nor the spirit of friends remains the same to us. That's true. They say the older we get, the less we like change. And perhaps that is true, but we also know that there are things that must change. We love to see the newborn babies. They're precious to behold, but no mother in her right mind would have her baby to remain forever a baby. This is a changing world. However, in a world of change and changing things, it's good to know that there is one who never changes. To complete the hymn writer's sentence, We can rejoice that though it is true, the change and decay in all around I see, yet we can finish with him, O thou who changes not, abide with me. And this is the great theme of our text this evening. This is the great truth that is outlined in this text. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever. I want to speak to you about that, about the unchanging and unchangeable Christ of God. There are a number of things that could be said about Jesus Christ the same. Let me mention the first one. He is the same in his person. Turn with me to Acts chapter one. Acts chapter one, there we have the story of our Lord's ascension from the mount from his disciples, he's to be parted from them, and he's going to go into heaven directly. And Acts chapter 1 verse 11 tells us that those two angels that stood there while the Lord went up into heaven said, and I quote, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven. Notice that term, this same Jesus. The one that the angels promised would one day return to this earth is this same Jesus. If we want to know what Jesus is and what he is like, today, then we only need to look at what he was in the days of his flesh when he walked among men on this earth. Because what Jesus was in the yesterday of his earthly life, he is in the today of his heavenly life and shall be forever. He is the same. So, what do we find when we read of Jesus in the yesterday of his life on this scene of time? Well, we discover that Christ was righteous. He was righteous. He always did what was right, even as a child. Now, we all have a tendency to look at our own children and more especially grandchildren, through rose-tinted spectacles. And we almost think that butter wouldn't melt in their mouths, and they can do nothing wrong. But we know in our heart of hearts that's not really true. They do wrong. They do wrong quite a lot of the time, actually. But when you think about the Lord Jesus Christ, in his early life, as a child growing up, he always did what was right. He never told a lie. Not even a white lie, as we often hear it referred to. The Lord Jesus never said a curse word. He never did anything wrong. He never disobeyed his earthly parents. He always spoke the truth. And growing up into manhood, his word was always faithful and true. We read that he went about doing good. He was compassionate, considerate, caring, but never at the expense of truth and righteousness in his own life. He was perfect, and the law that he kept himself he always upheld. Sin he called sin. Wickedness he rightly condemned, and not once did he ever treat sin as that which might be overlooked or swept under the rug. you would only have to examine portions like Matthew chapter 23. And you see that over and over again there, he says, woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, blind guides, serpents. The Lord Jesus here rebuked hypocrisy in the most strong terms. His contempt for false religion was clear. He never made peace with unrighteousness, even saying to the woman, whom he forgave of her adultery, go and sin no more. And that which we learn of Christ in the days of his flesh, these things I've just mentioned and others besides, he is still like that. He's still the same. He will never allow you to embrace your sins. and to hold those sins to your bosom while asking for his acceptance. The Lord Jesus does not just accept your sinful lifestyle or that of any other person and say that it's okay. The Lord will never tell you you do not need to repent of your sins. No, for he is righteous and he hates iniquity and that's always going to be true. He came to save men and women from their sins and not in their sins. He's the same in his person. Christ was righteous. But furthermore, we can say concerning the Lord Jesus, that he was gracious. Christ was gracious. One of the greatest qualities in his earthly days was his approachableness. How often do we read in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John of those who came to Jesus? And how he, quote, received all that came unto him. They brought to him the sick, the lame, the blind, the lepers, the palsied. All that were brought unto him, he healed. He went about doing good. He was gracious. We never read in scripture that Jesus had private quarters. We never read that he had pre-engagements Anybody and everybody was welcome to come to him. And just a cursory look at the gospel records will show that this is the case. Here's the Lord on the public road walking along and he's encountered by two blind men, one of which was blind Bartimaeus. He didn't turn him away, he didn't ignore him, he didn't pretend not to hear him, but he received him and he healed him. He's no longer on that road, he's in a crowded house. He's going to teach people the word of God, and all of a sudden there's a commotion above their heads, and all of a sudden the tiles are removed from that eastern roof, and down into the midst there drops a man on his bed, lowered, presumably by rooks, by his four friends, the paralytic The Lord didn't say, I've no time now to deal with this, take him away, I'll see you later. No, right there, he extended grace to that man. Here he is again, he's at a private feast held in his honor by Simon. And there's a woman there who's described as a woman that was a sinner. He's got all the time in the world for her. He doesn't turn her away. He doesn't say, you're too sinful for me to deal with. but he shows grace to her. Here he is alone at nighttime, and he's approached by a ruler of the Jews, Nicodemus. He doesn't say, Nicodemus, it's been a long day. I've had a lot to do. Just come back tomorrow. No, right there, he speaks to that man about his need, tells him that he needs to be born again. Here he is at another time. He's weary. He's tired. He sits down at a well. There's a woman who comes there to draw water. Instead of ignoring her, he speaks to her, the Samaritan woman. He says words that result in her conversion and in the deliverance of many others in that same city. He went about doing good, showing mercy to publicans and sinners. Furthermore, Jesus was gracious to the backslider who had denied him. We read of Simon Peter denying the Lord with oaths and curses. And rather than the Lord saying to Peter, I want nothing more to do with you. You have blown it, Peter. You can't serve me any longer. The Bible tells us that they're at that fire of coals by the seaside. He asked Peter three times, love us by me. And he restores Peter and says to Peter once again, follow me." He's gracious to the doubter. The man who would not believe unless he could see. Thomas was not with them when Jesus came. He missed out on the blessing of God that Sunday evening, but he came the next Sunday evening and right there, Thomas experienced what they had experienced one week before. And the Lord was gracious unto him. The Lord forgave sins. Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. Woman, thy sins be forgiven thee. Remember his prayer from the cross. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. All of these are wonderful instances of grace and mercy. And I want to tell you, these are repeated still in the lives of men and women today. Jesus is still the same. He's gracious. The Bible says in 1 John 1 verse 9, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He never turned seeking souls away. And if you seek him tonight, he will not turn you away. Christ is a savior for all comers. Sometimes Christians don't behave toward the unsaved the way that they should. We see that in the disciples of Christ. They said of a certain woman one day, Lord, send her away. She crieth after us. But Jesus never sent anybody like that away. Those who brought their children to Jesus that he might touch them. The disciples rebuked those that brought them. told them to take them away, but the Lord Jesus didn't do that. He said, no, suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not for such as the kingdom of God. The outcasts of society came to the Lord and he received them. The worst of sinners he forgave and do not forget that he was approachable even for the children. Dare I say it, especially was he amenable to the little ones. I fear that there are some whose high-powered doctrine would keep the children from Christ, but they're of a different spirit to the Lord. The Lord said, allow the little children to come unto me. Don't forbid them. The person who would forbid or would hinder one of these little ones which believe in me. Jesus said it would be better for him to have a millstone put around his neck and he cast into the depths of the sea. One of these little ones which believe in me. You're not too young to come to Jesus for he loves the little child. Jesus is the same in his person. We can say then that Jesus is the same in his purpose. Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever. Our text teaches that he is, he was, and he always will be the same as to his great purpose. The scripture tells us that Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. It was his purpose from eternity to come into the world and to give his life for the salvation of the church. Remember the words in Jeremiah 31, 3. Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. The name that was given to him at his birth by Joseph was Jesus. The angel told the reason for that, for he shall save his people from their sins. And that love which brought him from heaven down to earth to redeem his people burns yet brightly and warmly in the bosom of Christ. He is the same today. He loves his people now. He loved his people from eternity. He will love his people forever. There's nothing that can separate us from that love of Christ. Romans chapter eight from verse 30 speaks in this way. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, then he also called and whom he called, then he also justified and whom he justified. Then he also glorified their salvation from eternity to eternity. Predestination, in eternity, glorification in eternity that is yet to come. What shall we say then? What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? And the questions continue. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather than is risen again. Who is even at the right hand of God? Who also maketh intercession for us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? And he goes on to speak that he's persuaded that nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Augustus Toplady was absolutely correct when he wrote, my name from the palms of his hands, eternity will not erase. Impressed on his heart, it remains in marks of indelible grace. Things future, nor things that are now. Not all things below or above can make him his purpose forego. or sever my soul from his love. Jesus Christ is the same, and his purpose to save his people is therefore the same in all ages. As his elect child, he has loved me, he does love me, he always will. Love me because he is Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever. The unchanging Christ has an immutable, unchangeable purpose. Malachi three verse six. I am the Lord. I change not. Therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed. I'm glad that the savior is the same in his purpose. We can also rejoice that he's the same in his power. Before the Lord left this scene of time, he gave what is often referred to as the Great Commission. We read about it in Mark 16, we read about it in Acts 1, we read about it in Matthew 28. In Matthew 28, from verse 18, Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power, it means all authority, is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. The Lord Jesus can still say and does say tonight, all power is given unto me in heaven and on earth. Jesus is the same always, as regards his power to redeem. He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, saying he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Jesus has saved. Jesus still saves today. He still saves sinners from the power, the punishment, and the pollution of sin and will one day save them from the very presence of sin. He saves men from the guilt of sin. Think of that little man who climbed up into the tree. Zacchaeus, Luke chapter 19. A little thieving wretch of a man who lined his own pockets with the exorbitant taxes paid by his fellow Jews to the Romans. The Lord saved him. The Lord changed his life. And so Jesus saves wretched, hell-deserving sinners now. He loves to save. This is his special work. He saved a man who was a persecutor of God's people, Saul of Tarsus. There he is on the Damascus Road. He's on his way to do despite to the church of God, to throw Christians into prison and to see them killed. The Lord saved them. And the Lord still saves the souls of Tarsus. today. His power has not diminished. He can lift the fallen today. The drunkard, the blasphemer, the harlot, the thief can be lifted from the mire and changed by grace. And yes, the self righteous one as well. The church goer, the one who's leaning upon his own good works, leaning upon his own righteousness, supposed or real in his own mind. The Lord is able to save to the uttermost. The gospel is still as powerful in its effects tonight upon the souls and the lives of men as it was in the days of his flesh. The apostle Paul could say, and we can say with him, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the dunamis. It is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. The Lord is able to save men today, just as he was in past days. He's the same in his power to redeem. He is the same as regards his power to restore. We've already referenced Peter. Peter who denied the Lord. Denied the Lord there at a fire of coals. Did you ever notice that in John chapter 18? Where Peter was when he denied that he even knew the Lord. He's standing there with the enemies warming his hands at the fire. And the next time he's at a fire of coals, it's on the beach when he comes from that boat. Jesus made that fire of coals and he's got on there a barbecue going. Fish and bread. And he says to the disciples and to Peter, come and dine. Come and enjoy this food. And while Peter's there at that fire of coals, what do you think's going through his mind? I know what would have been going through my mind if I were Peter. I'd be thinking that the last time that I talked about the Lord was to deny him at a fire of coals. And here's a fire of coals set by Jesus in John chapter 21. And right there the Lord restores Peter graciously. He uses all the skill of a surgeon with a scalpel as he deals with Peter's conscience. Peter denied the Lord three times. How many times did the Lord ask him, lovest thou me? three times. That's why it says Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, because it was three times that he had said that he didn't even know the Lord. And the Lord restored Peter there in such a way that he was restored to full usefulness and service. Not many chapters later in the book of Acts chapter two, in fact, Peter standing up with the 11th filled with the Holy Ghost. preaching with power, and about 3,000 souls were added unto the Lord. You know the Lord promised to restore the backslidden in the days of Jeremiah the prophet. He used that analogy that he was married to the backslider. Jeremiah chapter three and verse 14. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord, for I am married unto you. And in verse 22, return ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. He said something similar to the children of Israel in the book of Hosea. In chapter 14 of that prophecy, in verse 4, I will heal their backsliding. I will love them freely, for mine anger is turned away from him. Maybe I'm talking to somebody tonight in this congregation or over the webcast, and you're a backslider. You've gotten away from the Lord. That hot, warm love that used to be in your heart for the Savior is no longer there. You're not walking with him as you once did. I want to tell you the Lord is able to restore to you the years that the locusts have eaten. You might be wondering, well, how could I ever get back to that place of usefulness to God that I once enjoyed? Will he forgive me? Will he take me up again? He will. because he's Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever. And if he promised, and he did through Joel, I will restore to you the years that the locusts have eaten, then he will do that for you. Even today, he is the same in his person. He's the same in his purpose. He's the same in his power. Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever. He is the same as to his presence. We've noted some instances in scripture where Jesus was present to save and he is still that same Jesus. Yet he's also the same Jesus and that he's present still to support the troubled. This is a troubled world. and there are many troubled hearts in this world. The Bible tells us in Psalm 46, verse one, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. The Lord said to his disciples in John 14, verse one, words that are very familiar to many of us, let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. Oh, our Lord, was often present to provide comfort to the hurting and sad in his earthly sojourn. How often do we read that the Lord was moved with compassion? We think of that famous occasion in John chapter 11, where Mary and Martha had lost their brother. He had died. And there was great weeping and great mourning there. The Bible says in that shortest verse in the Bible, John 11, 35, Jesus wept. Oh, the Lord is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He is present still to support the troubled. It's also true that he is now ever present to succor the tempted. Let me read to you from Hebrews chapter 4. Beautiful words concerning our great high priest. Hebrews 4 from verse 15. It's speaking of Christ by way of contrast with earthly priests. For we have not a high priest. This is not what Jesus is like. We have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted, like as we are, yet without sin. Sin apart. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Someone wrote, there's not a pine that rends the heart, but the man of sorrows has a part. The Lord is able to support the troubled, and he's able to succor the tempted. There are some great tests and trials that God's people even have to endure in this life. And we might be tempted to ask the question that the hymn writer asked, is there anyone can help us? One who understands our heart, when the thorns of life have pierced them till they bleed. One who sympathizes with us, who in wondrous love imparts just the very, very blessing that we need. And we can answer, yes, there's one, only one, the blessed, blessed Jesus, he's the one. When afflictions press the soul, when waves of sorrow roll and you need a friend to help you, he's the one. Jesus is the same today as he ever was and ever will be. As we read scripture, we learn and we know that he was literally with his disciples on the earth. They were with him, right in his presence. I don't know if you've ever thought about that, what that must have been like, to actually accompany with the Son of God in the flesh, to go about with him, to watch him, to listen to him, to hear him pray, to see the miracles that he did, just to be in his gracious presence. What an amazing thing that must have been. And of all the twelve disciples, of course one was a traitor, but he saw the things that the other one saw. Of them there was a company that were even closer to Christ. Three of them, the inner circle, I call them, Peter, James, and John. You can read in the New Testament and the Gospels of those occasions when those three men were with Jesus, when the others were not permitted to be with him. For example, when Jairus' daughter was sick and had died, the Lord brought those three men into the house with him, Peter, James, and John, and he put everybody else out. When he was up there on the Mount of Transfiguration, The three who were with him, as well as Moses and Elijah from the Old Testament, were Peter and the sons of Zebedee, James and John. When he's in the Garden of Gethsemane, you see there that he went a little further with three of the disciples as opposed to the rest. Those three were Peter, James, and John. Oh, what a privilege was theirs to be even closer to the Lord than the others. And yet of those three, there was one who I would suggest was closer yet, and that's John. Because he was the one who was able to, at supper, lie his head on Jesus' bosom, right on his breast. Think about that. John is reposing on the very literal breast of the Son of God. You can hear his heartbeat. the heartbeat of Jesus. What an amazing privilege that man had. And yet, spiritually, you and I have the very same privilege as those disciples. The hymn writer said, he walks with me and he talks with me. And he tells me I am his own and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known. As the Lord was literally with his disciples on the earth, he's still with his people in accordance with his promise. Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Sometimes you might get to where you feel like you haven't got a friend in the world, and maybe you don't. But if Jesus is your friend, what does it matter? What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear, what a privilege to carry everything to God, in prayer. Jesus is near to comfort and cheer just when we need him most. What a great thing it is to know that low. I am with you all way, even unto the end of the world. The Lord is with us. David Livingstone of Scotland was a missionary to Africa. When I ministered in Scotland, I ministered in Rutherglen in Glasgow. Rutherglen was about a mile or so as the crow flies from Blantyre. Blantyre was the birthplace in Lanarkshire of David Livingstone. There's a museum there. You can go there and visit a place where he worked that they've recreated. They're behind a glass case. There are certain artifacts that belong to him. There's his Bible. There is a testimony that he wrote to the mission board when he was applying to be accepted. Wonderful to be there. One day I was there in Blantyre. And towards me there walked an African man. And he had a big smile on his face. He walked right up to me. And he spoke to me. And I said, how are you? Are you a visitor here? He says, I'm from Blantyre. I said, really? I haven't seen you before. He said, no, not Blantyre here. Blantyre in Central Africa. He said, I'm in this country studying down in England. But I'm a Christian. And he said, I wanted to come up to Scotland to see the place. where the missionary who brought the gospel to my part of the world came from. And he said, that's why I'm smiling. He said, I've got such a thrill in my heart today, being here at the home place, at the birthplace of David Livingstone. And I stood there and the tears ran down my cheeks. And I thought, what a blessing. Here's a man who appreciates so much the gospel that was brought to him by that man. David Livingston was indeed a man of God. He died in Africa. He had his heart buried there. But when he died, it was in a little mud hut with a grass roof. And apparently Livingston was knelt by his little grass tick, his little bed. in the attitude of prayer when they found him dead. His Bible was open at Matthew 28, where he had underlined verse 20. Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. And he had written in small print in the margin of that Bible, it is the word of a gentleman of the truest kind. And the Lord was with Livingston right to the end, and he's now with the Lord in glory. But that promise that meant so much to that man is a promise that ought to mean the same to us, because the Lord is with us. He's with you, brother. He's with you, sister. Whatever you go through, he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And as the disciples were met by Jesus in the upper room after the resurrection, and he blessed them, so he will meet with us every time we gather in his name. It seems so often that the prayer meetings are small, and maybe that's why people like to quote, where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst. But you know, it's true. It's true. Even if there's only two of you or three of you, The Lord says, I am in the midst. He's with us. He's with us, brother. So let us press on in his service. One of the greatest promises in scripture is that which is found in John chapter 14 and it's verse 18. The Lord told his disciples he was going to be going away. They were grieved about that. They were sad at the thought of that, at the prospect of that. But he said, I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you. You know that word comfortless there in John 14, 18, literally means, and you'll see it in the margin of your King James Version, your Authorized Version, comfortless or orphans. I will not leave you orphans. I didn't appreciate the significance of that until my father passed on to be with the Lord just two years ago, about a week ago, it was two years. My mother passed away a year and a half before that. And then when my dad was gone, I remember thinking, I'm an orphan. I don't have parents on this earth anymore. I'm an orphan. And sometimes we think about orphans, we think about little children, don't we? We think about little ones that are left without their parents. And that is a sad thing. But I don't care how old you are, when you lose your parents, you're an orphan. And to be an orphan is a lonely feeling. And that's what Jesus meant when he said, I will not leave you orphans. I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same. All may change, but Jesus never. Glory to His name. Glory to His name. Glory to His name. All may change, but Jesus never. Glory to His name. May the Lord bless His word to all of our hearts. Let us pray. Our Father and our gracious God, We rejoice in thy word as one that findeth great spoil. We thank thee for the comfort of the scripture as well as its challenge. Oh, what a blessing it is for us as believers to be able to say Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He will always be this same Jesus. Lord, I pray that that will bless our hearts, It will sustain us even in the hard times that we face in life. Lord, I pray for any who are without the Savior. Lord, what a joy it is for us to know that the one who saved others is able to save them. As the hymn writer said, it is no secret what God can do. What he's done for others, he'll do for you. With arms wide open, he'll pardon you. It is no secret what God can do. Lord, thou art able to save sinners today, as thou hast always saved them. And I pray that thou will do this for the honor and glory of thy name. Write thy word upon each heart, we pray, in the Savior's precious name. Amen. Now I understand that you normally don't have a closing hymn, but we're going to change that tonight. We don't stand on ceremony and I feel a hymn coming on. So we're going to sing yesterday, today, forever. Jesus is the same. 125 125 all may change, but Jesus never glory. to his name. Number 125. And what we will do is sing the first three stanzas only, okay? One, two, and three of 125. ♪ Westward traveling day by day ♪ ♪ Westward heading together ever ♪ ♪ Jesus lives this day ♪ ♪ Truth and love to save us all ♪ ♪ The world was saved by faith ♪ ♪ Share the love and love with all ♪ ♪ Let truth be true this day ♪ Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave and the home of the brave? ♪ O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave ♪ for Jesus' sake. Glory to His name. Glory to His name. Glory to His name. Glory to His name. Glory to His name. O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, ♪ And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air ♪ ♪ Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there ♪ Father, part us with Thy blessing now. Keep us in Thy fear and favor. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, be our resting place and our abiding portion. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.