2-20-2015

Good Morning All,

         1 Kings 8:56; “Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant.”

     “Being of no power to make his wishes good: his promises fly so beyond his state that what he speaks is all in debt; he owes for every word.” ~William Shakespeare or perhaps this is more to your understanding.  “When a man takes an oath... he's holding his own self in his own hands. Like water. And if he opens his fingers then — he needn't hope to find himself again.” ~Robert Bolt.  There has been much written about promises; about how easily we make them; how quickly we offer them and how easily we walk away from them.  Our lives are filled with promises and many times they go unkept.

    Broken promises have become such a common event in our lives that it is almost expected.  We laugh among ourselves when we think of political speeches and campaign promises which seem to be given for the express purpose of breaking them.  We deal with promises that businesses make regarding their products yet it takes reams of paper to read the fine print about what exactly is promised and how that promise will be delivered.  Sadly, this view of promises also enters into our personal life and the relationships that we have with one another.

    One of the most important tasks in marriage counseling is getting the couple to see that the vows that they take during the ceremony are real.  The vows are clear and are meant to be a lifetime commitment.  Unfortunately, you just have to read the court news in the paper to see that sacred promises made to and before God have the same value as political promises; very little.  We are surrounded by broken promises made in a sinful broken world.

     This is why we can find so much comfort in God’s promises.  He has kept them all so far and will continue to keep them in the future.  The writer of the Book of Hebrews explains that God has taken a holy oath against his own name and that by God’s very nature as holy; he cannot break a promise; it would go against his nature.  Every promise God makes, he keeps.

    So when God promises to never abandon you; he never will.  When God promises you eternal life; you have it.  When God promises to provide for you; he will provide.  When God promises that your sins are forgiven, forgotten and left in the past; you can trust that they are.  The past is over and our future is secure; we can live in the present knowing that God’s love is abounding and protecting us from harm and danger.  God always keeps his promises; he never fails.

God of all mercy, we give you thanks for your great promises of salvation.  We give you thanks that you sent Jesus to walk in our stead and that you forgive our sins and free us from the power of the devil.  Guide us to live in bold confidence of your mercy.  Be with those who are in doubt or are in struggles in their life.  Guard them by your Holy Spirit.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret