“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.” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT)
What is a promise? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary it is: “a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified; a legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act.”
When someone makes a promise to you, doesn’t it stand to reason that the promise is only as reliable as the character of the one who makes the promise? Satan is a liar by nature; he knows only how to lie. John writes in reference to the unbelieving Jews in 8:44: “For you are children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Compare that with Paul’s words to Titus in chapter 1:1-2 when he writes: “This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God – who does not lie – promised them before the world began.”
Estimates range from 2,000 to over 8,000 promises that God’s makes in the Bible, depending on the nature of the promise and to whom it is given, but every promise God makes is as good as kept because God doesn’t know how to lie. It’s not in His holy nature to vary in any degree from the truth regardless of the context. I love what C. H. Spurgeon wrote: “God’s promises are longer than life, broader than sin, deeper than the grave, and higher than the clouds.”
What do you most need in this season of your life? Do you need hope? Check out Romans 15:13 where Paul writes: “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
How about peace? See John 14:27 where Jesus says: “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” Or forgiveness? Remember the words of the Lord to Paul when He spoke to him on the road to Damascus in Acts 26? His specific mission for Paul was “…to open their eyes (Gentiles – you and me), so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in Me.”
Or comfort? I think of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 1:4-5 when he writes: “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with His comfort through Christ.” God keeps His promises. As His trusting child you can believe without doubt He will give you everything you need to be everything He died to enable you to become for Him.
Here’s the bottom line – whatever we need God promises to supply it. Paul summarizes this in Philippians 4:19 when he writes: “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 