Tag: God’s Promises

Devotionals

A Sign in the Sky 

Loring Schultz

Read: Genesis 9:8-17 NLT – Then God told Noah and his sons, “I – Bible Gateway

“I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth.” Genesis 9:13 NLT

Photo by Frans van Heerden on Pexels.com

Here in North America we are blessed often with a rainbow in the sky during the summer season. It’s not that one does not appear at other times, but lest frequent. A rainbow forms, in simple terms, as light mixes with water droplets. You made have noticed a few when washing your car. But the most amazing spectacle is seeing one in the sky on a summer day after a thunder shower. God, the creator of the heavens and the earth, did not form the rainbow at the earth’s creation, but after the great flood in the book of Genesis. Nevertheless, God created it. He created it and placed in the sky for a purpose, His covenant with the earth, His rainbow.

It is well-known the rainbow has been hijacked of its meaning over the last several decades, but that is a subject for another day. Our focus today is why did God place a rainbow in the sky. The rainbow is God’s covenant, His promise to us that ‘Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life.” (Gen.9:15 nlt) The world, in Noah’s day, was extremely sinful and evil. “The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt.” (Gen.6:5,12 nlt) God had decided He would destroy all living creations due to their wickedness. But Noah found favor with the Lord. The entire story of Noah and the great flood is found in Genesis chapters 6 through 9.

Back to our ‘sign in the sky.’ The Lord has kept His promise through the ages, and we have proof that He will continue to do so as we see His covenant sign in the sky in the form of a rainbow. But our world has become increasing wicked once again, and this time Jesus Christ is returning to earth to make things right. “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.” (Mt.24:37-39 nlt

Don’t get caught by surprise as in the days of Noah, but remember God’s faithfulness, His promises, and His plan for Salvation available only through His Son, Jesus.

Devotionals

Our Promise Keeper       

Loring Schultz

“Praise the LORD who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses.” 1 Kings 8:56 NLT

Photo by Yulia Gadalina on Unsplash

‘Promise Keepers’ is a Men’s Evangelical Christian organization created “to equip men, through the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, to live the Christian life boldy and unashamedly, producing better husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, and leaders within their respective communities.” (1) Founded by Bill McCartney, University of Colorado’s football coach in 1990, the organization is still headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is based on seven promises men make to each other and to God. “You see, when you make a promise to a brother, you declare your intentions and obligate yourself to follow through. You bind yourself to that person, too. You actually look into the future and determine, by your deliberate choice, that part of it relates to your promise.” Bill McCartney (1)

I applaud ‘Promise Keepers’ for their commitment to each other and to God. Yet, as much as we try to remain faithful to our friends and to God, even making promises, sadly we do fail at times. We are blessed we have a forgiving God who cleanses us from our stain of sin. We’re thankful for brothers and sisters in Christ who forgive us when we fail. Encouraging one another in Christ is key in helping us keep our promises whether as a part of ‘Promise Keepers’, your church family, or your closest Christian friends.

All Christians can rely on the one we know who will always keep His promises, the Lord God. At the dedication of God’s Temple in the Old Testament, King Solomon rose up from his prayer and said, “Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses.” (1Kg.8:56 nlt) The Jewish people had witnessed all God’s promises through their lives and none failed to come to pass. If we take time to look back over our lives, we will see He has done the same for us. The Lord God is our Promise Keeper.

(1) About Us – Promise Keepers

Devotionals

God’s Promise of Eternal Life  

Loring Schultz

“This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.” 1 John 2:25 NASB

Photo by wisconsinpictures on Unsplash
 

Do you know the number of promises God has given to us in the Bible? I did not. To me they are countless, but there is an actual number. Whether any human being could count them all and be accurate I’m not sure, but what I do know is that God knows the exact number for they are His promises. Many Biblical scholars put the number at 7,487 promises of God found in Scripture. So, I’ll go with that. God is not a God that He should lie. When God makes a promise, He sees it through. The responsibility now falls on us, do we believe His promises?

Of all the promises God has made, perhaps the greatest is His promise of eternal life. “This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life…..And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” (1Jn.2:25, 5:11 nasb) If you believe there is a God, then you should believe He is not a deceiver and would not lie. What He promises will come about, because He Himself is God. He has promised those who believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, will have eternal life.

The only sure thing we can count on in this world is the promises of God as recorded in Scripture. As noted, there are many to read about in His Word and be encouraged, but we need to take first things first. The first promise of God for us to learn is His love for us and His salvation plan through Jesus Christ that guarantees us eternal life. Every one of His promises is true but let us start with the most important one. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (Jn.3:16 nasb)

Devotionals

Guaranteed Good Things

Loring Schultz

“For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” Psalm 84:11 NLT

Photo by Volkan Olmez on Unsplash

It’s always nice to have a guarantee on something you purchase. There is a satisfying comfort in the thought if the product breaks it can be replaced, even if you break it. But a guarantee is only as good as the word of the one backing it up. There are occasions when a guarantee is not guaranteed according to ‘the fine’ print. Always read the fine print. We all assume that there is no such thing as a sure thing, but we assume wrong. There are sure things. With the Lord God there are many sure things, and they are guaranteed.

Psalm 84:11 says, “The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” (Ps.84:11b nlt) It sounds to me like we are guaranteed good things from God. It certainly seems like a sure thing for God said it. There is no fine print to watch out for. The conditions are clearly spelled out for us so there is no misunderstanding. We only need to read it as it is written. It’s God speaking. But take note that it is conditional. God promises not to hold back any good thing that helps or benefits us when we obey Him and do what’s right.

With that said, we do not always see things the Lord allows in our lives as good things as we do what’s right. We must then search ourselves and ask do we trust God that His words are true? If we are in a right relationship with Him obeying His Word, and no we are not perfect, we can be assured that God will honor His Word and not withhold any good thing from us. It’s a guarantee.

Devotionals

You can count on God to keep His promises

Loring Schultz

“This is what the LORD says: ‘You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again.’” Jeremiah 29:10 NLT

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According to ‘On This Day’ in history website, Presian King, Cyrus the Great, marched into Babylon on October 29, 539 B.C. capturing the city and destroying the Babylonian Empire. It set in motion the soon release of the Jews who have been captives for 70 years. God had promised that although the Jews had sinned against Him resulting in Jerusalem being destroyed and them being taken captive, He would be faithfully have them return. The Lord used this Persian king to free His people and to order the rebuilding of the Temple. (Ez.1:1-2) God had kept His promise.

Have you ever thought of all God’s promises recorded for us in the Bible. Here are a few of them;

Salvation, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Ro.10:9 nlt)

Peace of God, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” (Is.26:3 niv)

God’s comfort, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Ps.23:4 niv)

Supplying our needs, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Ph.4:19 niv)

God is always present, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Dt.31:8 niv)

Promised rest, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt.11:28 niv)

Wisdom granted, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (Ja.1:5 niv)

Forgiveness of sins, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1Jn.1:9 niv)

Adopted, “he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.” (Eph.1:5 niv)

God’s love, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn.3:16 niv)

Just a few of the many promises for us from God. We can be sure He will keep those promises for he has proven it all throughout Scripture. Whatever your need is tell God today reading back the promise Scripture to Him. God keeps His promises, you can count on it.

Devotionals

I Promise

Loring Schultz

“Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.” Joshua 21:45 NLT

Photo by Alberto Barrera on Unsplash

How many times have you spoken the words “I promise” only to break your promise. It may have been unintentional or deliberate, in either case you broke your promise, and someone got hurt. Most of us have felt the effects of broken promises, and again most of us have at one time hurt someone from lack of commitment to keep that promise. Marriage vows are being altered today to lessen the sting of a broken promise by making them conditional. Making it easier doesn’t justify breaking promises. We are fallen creatures, prone to fail by breaking promises, but can learn a great deal from our Lord God who never breaks any of His promises to us.

Near the end of Joshua’s life as Israel was settled in the Promised Land, we find these words from the book of Joshua, “Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.”  (Jos.21:45 nlt) God promised Abraham seven hundred years earlier, “And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.” (Gen.17:8 nlt) God fulfilled His promise.

Many of God’s promises are recorded in the pages of scripture, most of them for our benefit. We are promised comfort in our afflictions, “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Mt.5:4 nlt) God will restore us in our weakest spiritual condition, “He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle.” (Is.42:3a nlt) The apostle Paul assures us God supplies all our needs, “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.” (Ph.4:19 nlt) He promises never to leave us, “For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.’” (Heb.13:5b nlt) Jesus, God the Son, promises to come back for us, “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” (Jn.14:3 nlt) And the best promise of all, the saving promise is, “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn.3:16 nlt)

Unfortunately, we will come into some disappointment in our lives by broken promises. But we can be certain that God never breaks any of His promises, His love for us, His protection, His on-going presence, His promise of salvation for all who believe, and His promise to return. When our Lord says, “I promise”, He keeps it!