Focus: The Promises (Pt.3)

Text: 2Pet.1:4

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises…"

God is absolutely trustworthy. He never makes promises that He cannot keep. He has infinite power to do whatever He says. Speaking about God's promise to Abraham, Stephen says, "And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child" (Act.7:5). 

God promised Abraham a land and a seed, and He kept His promise. God promised to Abraham and his seed a territory, and as at the time of the promise, Abraham had no child, but God said to him in essence, 'I have a place for you and your children.' At the time of the promise, Sarah was barren and aging, but God insisted that the promised seed would come from her. God kept His word. Through Sarah and Abraham, Isaac came, and from Isaac, Jacob came, and from Jacob, God multiplied the seed of Abraham, and God brought them out of the Egyptian slavery and led them through the desert until they fought their way into the promise land and possessed it. God faithfully fulfills His promises.

The writer of Hebrews says, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised" (Heb.10:23). He tells us that Sarah "judged him faithful who had promised" (Heb.11:11). God is the faithful fulfiller of His promises.

All that God wants from us is to trust Him, to hold onto His promises without wavering, and to judge Him faithful. James says, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him" (Jam.1:12). The promises of God are for those who love Him. He says again, "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?" (Jam.2:5). We are the poor of this world. We are rich in faith, and we are heirs of the kingdom, and we love the Lord. John says, "And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life" (1Jh.2:25). 

God has given us the promise of eternal life, and it is already a reality in us - in those who believe in Jesus Christ.

Luke declares, "To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant" (Lk.1:72). God is a performer of His own promises, and He has given us the promise of mercy. It is the covenant mercy of God. The promises are numerous and magnificent.

Believe the promises and trust God to fulfill them in your life. 

I close with words of Annie Johnson Flint:

"God has not promised skies always blue,

flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;

God has not promised sun without rain,

joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

But God has promised strength for the day,

rest for the labor, light for the way,

grace for the trials, help from above,

unfailing sympathy, undying love." 

Believe God for the promises, and look forward to experiencing them in due season, one after another.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter