Promises

David Wilkerson, author of The Cross and the Switchblade, and pastor of Times Square Church in New York City, every year sends out a calendar to his newsletter recipients with a promise from God’s word for each day.  It is an inspired habit that is meant to encourage his readership with the reality that God has given us promises we can rely upon to help us through life.

Dwight L. Moody once said, “God never made a promise that was too good to be true.”  The fearless fighter and leader of Israel, Joshua, reminded the Israelites, “None of the good promises the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed. Everything was fulfilled”(Joshua 21:45). King David would echo Joshua’s words hundreds of years later when he proclaimed in praise, “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;Your rule is for all generations.The Lord is faithful in all His wordsand gracious in all His actions” (Psalm 145:13).
 
Meditation
2 Peter 1:3,4--Hisdivine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us byHis own glory and goodness. By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.
 
Behold the sea with all its boats!  Some row to the song Que Sera, Que Seraand stroke with the peace of resignation.  Some glide on the finest of craft with the best equipment.  With a determined heart and a set mind they move by their own compass to conquer and fail according to the power of the flesh.  Some steam under the flag of nature, or a prophet, or sovereign nation, intent on finding meaning according to the dictates of the banner they serve.  Some set their sail to the wind of the Holy Spirit.  They travel with their hope on the heavenly covenants God extended through His Son—Jesus.  
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Every boat encounters storms.  Each endures hardships and enjoys celebrations until all eventually submerge before the unceasing waves of an ocean of death.  Only One captain has ever gone down and come up victorious. At least that is what the Bible claims. This famous Pilot gives us the mother of all promises, the covenant of eternal redeemed life with God Himself. Through His glory and goodness He pledges His power to see us through our earthly voyage.  Therefore we have the opportunity to live with the certain joy that God’s promises are relevant and efficacious to us.  Is life getting you down?  Who’s your Promise Keeper?
 
Inspiration
God alone can fulfill His promises, and we have to come to the place of perfect reliance upon God to do just that.—Oswald Chambers in Not Knowing Where
 
©1999 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)