Our Family Time with God

November 18, 2009

GOD IS GREAT IN HIS PROMISES

Scripture Reading--Psalm 95

Give special attention to verse 11.

Parents must learn the value of being true to their promises. If they promise a bicycle, they had better be prepared to fulfill that promise. If they promise a spanking, they must fulfill that promise, too. Most promises are made sincerely, but some are foolish. That's why we must be careful about making promises.

God's Word is a book of promises. When God promised blessing, He blesses. When He promises judgment, He judges, as we see in verses 10-11 of our text. God is always true to what He promises. If God promises something, you can count on Him to follow through. Second Peter 1:4a says, "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises" ( emphasis added ). Second Corinthians 1:20 is another good reminder of God's promises. "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us" ( emphasis added ). Too many of God's people are sitting on the4 premises or leaning over the precipice when they should be standing on the promises.

I heard about some folks who agreed to do a job for a fellow for a certain amount of money. It was a difficult project. Finished, they went to the homeowner to collect their pay. Would you believe it? He looked them right in the eye and said he wasn't going to pay them what he'd agreed. That poor fellow knew nothing about keeping a promise. Though it was hard for the Christians to accept his broken promise, they trusted the Lord and learned a valuable lesson. People can break promises and think nothing of it, but God will never break His promises.

ACTION POINT: Have you made promises to God or others that you haven't kept? If so, be willing to ask forgiveness and to make a commitment to be true to your word. If you made a promise you can't possibly fulfill, ask to be relieved of that promise. That's how to maintain a clear conscience.

--Jack Palmer--