“’Don’t be afraid!’ David said. ‘I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the King’s table!’” (2 Samuel 9:7 NLT)
Depending on the source, it’s estimated that between 3,200 to 31,000 promises from God are in the Bible. A round number is there are roughly 8,000 promises that God makes to His people. Why is that even important? Because there’s not one instance in the Bible or otherwise, where God has not kept His promise. And you might wonder: “How does he know that? It’s not humanly possible to verify every promise God has kept.”
And you’d be 100% correct, because no one can; however, I know God and I know He is not able to not keep a promise. And, yes, I understand that’s cumbersome, so, let me state it in another way, using the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:19-20: “For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’ He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate ‘Yes,” He always does what He says. For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding ‘Yes!’ And through Christ, our ‘Amen’ (which means ‘Yes’) ascends to God for His glory.”
Why is this important? For two primary reasons. First, we need to know that God is a promise keeper. And, secondly, if we’re to be conformed to His image, as Jesus is, we must be promise keepers as well. How does this work it’s way into the fabric of our lives? A principle that is taught throughout Scripture is – if you’re faithful in small things you’re likely going to be faithful in large things as well. What might that look like for us?
Basically, if you say you’re going to do something, do it! If you tell your wife or child, or anyone else for that matter, you’re going to take them someplace or do something with or for them, keep your promise. And I can “hear” the wheels turning in some of your heads: “Yeh, but isn’t telling them something and promising them, two different things?” Let me give you the best answer I know: “NO!” There’s no difference. Your word as a child of God is your bond, so, to say it is to promise it.
Charles Spurgeon said: “God hath promised to keep his people, and he will keep his promise.” When God says something, it’s done. It may take some time, but you can count on it, it’s going to happen. God promised hundreds of years before it happened that a Messiah would come. Then, after that Messiah grew into manhood and began “construction” of His Church, (which is still under construction), Jesus promised that He was going to return.
His “return” is a multi-dimensional process that in one sense has happened, but in another sense is still to come. What does that mean? It means before Jesus left this earth, He promised the coming of His Holy Spirit to serve as His presence on earth in and through His followers until He came again in a literal form.
Why is that important? Because we’re impatient and we’re easily distracted. That’s why Peter wrote in 2 Peter 3:9-10a: “The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.”
This is too rich to keep hanging, so let’s pick it up in tomorrow’s post (unless the Lord returns today, then we won’t worry about anything else 😊).
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 