Hope Guaranteed

Hebrews 6:17-20

As we approach Christmas, God wants us to know that he delivers on his promises.  His word is unbreakable and unchanging.  He’s not going to say one thing and do another.  

Today’s passage talks about being encouraged and taking hold of the hope set before us.  The hope of Jesus is an anchor for the soul.  It grounds us and keeps us secure.  How comforting is it to know that when God says he’ll save his people, he saves his people.

So, during these turbulent times when nothing feels safe, we can rely on Him.  We can be secure in the knowledge, that while it may feel like our world is crumbling, there is hope.  The hope of a savior born in a manger.  Come Lord, come.  We anxiously await you.

Money-Back Guarantee

Deuteronomy 28:1-14

If I’m being honest, today’s reading feels like a promotional pitch.  If you heed these commands, your life will be perfect.  Obey the Lord and you will be blessed beyond measure.  The difference between modern day ads for the latest “life changing” products, is that God can and will follow through on his promises.  He doesn’t need a money-back guarantee.

I guess you could say Deuteronomy is one of the earliest marketing campaigns.  God was using Moses to “sell” the people on a life of faith in Him verses wasting their time and energy on false gods.  He wanted them to know the benefits of following him rather than buying into the lies.

So why then does it feel like we’re not always getting what we paid for?  Well, first of all, we didn’t pay for it, He did.  It’s a gift we choose to accept or not.  While God can provide infinite blessings, it doesn’t mean our lives will be nothing but bliss.  Life on earth is hard and struggles are common, but it’s believing in the truth of God’s ability to grant us abundant prosperity, that will sustain us.  Enemies will be defeated.

Life can be cruel and we sometimes become desperate to believe anything that will make the pain go away.  We want a quick fix.  We can either buy into deceptive claims or we can put our faith in the one true God who can transform our pain into prosperity.

My favorite part of today’s reading comes from verse 13, “If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.

Lord, I want to rise to the top and not be stuck at the bottom.  I know you are the one to fulfill this promise.  To this, I buy in completely.  Take me out of the pit when the time is right and set me on solid ground.  Amen

"Not by works of righteousness that we have done..."

Deuteronomy 9:1-6

In today’s reading Moses is talking to the Israelites as they are about to cross the Jordan River and enter into the Promised Land.  Verses 1-3 summarize the challenges (Anakites!) of claiming this new land and end with the promise that “the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire.  He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you.”  These had to be some exciting words for a people who have been wandering in the wilderness for many years!


But after the promises in verses 1-3 the tone changes.  Three times in the next three verses Moses tells the people that the victories that they are going to experience are not because of their righteousness.  In fact, the reading ends with Moses telling the Israelites that instead of being righteous they “are a stiff-necked people.”


These warnings made me think of Paul’s instruction to Titus in Titus 3:4-5:  “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit”.  (We hear a similar message from Paul in Ephesians 2:8-9).


God calls us to live righteous lives just as he did the Israelites.  But like the Israelites, we need to be reminded that our efforts toward righteousness do not “earn” our deliverance from our enemies (sin and death).  That only comes from the grace God showers on those who believe in his son, Jesus Christ.
  
As Lutheran Christians we like to talk about Law and Gospel.  The Law does a pretty good job of reminding us that our efforts toward righteousness are not enough.  The Law Shows us Our Sin (SOS).  The Gospel shows us the true source of our deliverance (salvation).  The Gospel Shows us Our Savior (SOS)!  


Thank-you Father for sending Jesus to win a victory for us that we could never win ourselves.  Help us to remember Moses’ message to the Israelites and Paul’s message to Titus as we give thanks for this incredible gift.  Amen.

The Promise

Revelation 21:1-5, 21-27

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2021%3A1-5%2CRevelation%2021%3A21-27&version=NIV;NLT

 

⁵ And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”      NLT

 

Promises bring with them the sense of a new beginning; a fresh start; a new adventure. A wedding, for instance, ushers in the promise of a new life together; of new love; of a future family.

 

We’ve all made promises. And we’ve all broken them. Who hasn’t made a New Year’s Resolution to lose weight, only to give up soon thereafter? Or promised to be on time

from now on, and ended up late for your next meeting? But God’s word is “trustworthy and true”.

 

God has made a promise to those who believe and follow Him; to those whose name is in the Book of Life. It’s the promise of the New Jerusalem; of Heaven.

 

² I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”      NIV

 

It sounds beautiful doesn’t it? It’s the ultimate promise that brings with it hope for the future, a new beginning, and a new life. It defeats death; stops shame; washes away guilt. This is where believers will live in the presence of God for eternity.

 

Author Stephen Covey wrote, “Begin with the end in mind”. For believers, the New Jerusalem is the end. So if you begin there, how does that affect your life between now and then? How does it affect you on a daily basis; on your decisions, your relationships, your job, or your finances?

 

God has made you a promise that he will keep. He is faithful. His word is trustworthy. Let’s keep His promise, The Promise, at the forefront of our mind.

 

 

 

 

Enjoyment of the Ordinary

With uplifted hand I said to them, "I am the Lord your God." On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands. (Ezekiel 20:5 b -6)

God exclaimed to Moses His faithfulness to His people. With uplifted hand He said to them, I am the Lord your God. This happened at the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-10) and God appointed Moses as the people's deliverer. Delivering the people to a land flowing with milk and honey. Ordinary ingredients for us tea drinkers.

God promised deliverance from bondage, from whatever has us tied up and bound tight. He provides blessings and assurances and can be certain He will be with us. He assured Israel He would take her out of Egypt into a land... flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands. He promises to take care of us today also.

We worship God in all things; a good meal, a rich conversation, a quiet moment, a glorious sunrise, fresh new snow, a pungent green forest, a simple cup of tea or coffee, a good glass of wine, or the enticing order of bacon cooking. God created us to enjoy His good gifts. Take time today to savor God.

God is all around us and He is good. By taking time and paying attention to the good things around us, we employ all our senses to experience God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. 

Ezekiel 20:5-6

Lamp to my Feet

“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. ² Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 

I have a tattoo on my right foot.  It is Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”  It was a Mother’s Day present.  It’s a reminder to me on what keeps my faith strong.  God’s word.  I love God’s word.  I have spent years studying the reliability of his word. There are so many outside sources that corroborate the truth found in the pages of scripture, that I get giddy when I read them. 

God’s word is perfectly true and as hard as it is to read a rebuke meant to pull me back on the path, it is equally wonderful when I read words such as the ones in Daniel 12.  “But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. ² Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life…”

I just love that! The promise of everlasting life.  This was actually the first time the reference to everlasting life was used in scripture.  How comforting it is to read that things are going to get hard, real hard.  A time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations hard, but there is hope.

Everlasting life. It is promised for God’s people.  This world is not the end.  All the trouble, disease, evil, and deception are not the end.  God has a plan.  It was rolled up in a scroll and saved for the exact right time, but it will come to pass.  His word says it will, so I believe it.

Promises Kept

Psalm 145

 

When my granddaughter was about 3 years old, she took a swimming class. The highlight of the class was at the end when the water slide was opened up. One Saturday, my daughter asked me to come to the class and go into the water with my granddaughter. I was more than happy to oblige.

 

During the class, my granddaughter told me several times how much fun the water slide was, but she made me promise that I absolutely wouldn’t let her head go under water at the bottom of the slide. I vowed that I would never let that happen.

 

As we began our descent from the top of the slide, I had both arms wrapped tightly

My feet are all that can be seen of us.

around her. But as we continued our downward spiral, I began to lose my grip. The slide was tossing me from side to side. Instinctively, I let go with one hand and then the other to regain my balance. Suddenly, without warning, we were at the bottom and into the water with both of our heads going under.

 

When we got out, my granddaughter looked very, very distressed. When asked if she wanted to go down the slide again, her response was a very clipped, “No. I want to go home. I want my Daddy.” Grandpa had failed to keep his promise.

 

Promises, and how we respond to them, reveal our character. Ultimately, it reveals who we are by how we treat others. David wrote in Psalm 145 about the character of God. God’s character can be seen by how He works in our lives. In fact, seven times in this Psalm David mentions “your works”.

 

For me, it is easier to see God’s works with twenty-twenty hind sight than it is during the daily grind of life. Afterwards, I can look back and see how He brought certain people or experiences or even books or a movie into my life to shape my thinking. God has been constantly at work in my life because He loves me.

 

My granddaughter didn’t think much of my character on that Saturday morning in question. All she knew was that her grandpa had not kept his promise, whether it was intended or not.

 

We never have to worry about that with our Lord. He always keeps His promises. He shows His love to us by His faithfulness, and as His followers, we are to show His love to others by our faithfulness. Therefore, let us love one another with Christ’s love through promises kept.

 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%20145&version=NIV;TLB
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Ps.145

 

Don't Get Burned

I admit it. I am a closet pyromaniac. I really enjoy fires in my fireplace at home. Perhaps more than I should!

 

We have all been told, “Don’t play with matches” when we were young. You guessed it. I did. And I got burned.

 

(I am not sure which was worse, burning my fingers, or suffering in silence. I had to keep quiet.  Had I told my parents, I am certain a different part of my body would have gotten hot, if you get my gist.)

 

Today’s reading is Hebrews 3:7-19. The author is speaking to Jewish converts who were reverting back to Judaism instead of moving ahead with their new Christian faith. He reminds these converts that God was not happy with their forefathers when they went astray in the dessert, en route to the Promised Land.

 

Their forefathers turned away from God and did not trust Him or believe His promises.

 

The author continues to remind the new converts that God punished those who ignored His promises. The generation who left Egypt died before entering the Promised Land.

 

In effect, the author says, “If you play with fire, you are going to get burned.”

 

Yet, instructions are given that help one keep one’s faith. “… encourage one another daily … so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness …. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.”

 

Keeping one’s faith in today’s world can be a challenge at times. We are tugged away from Christ from many sources. Like the Hebrews, we can be guilty of falling back to the ways of the world. We need to combat this and do exercises that help us keep our faith.

 

The author of Hebrews provides good counsel, but his advice is not the only advice that works for Christians today.

 

What exercises do you do that help you appreciate God and keep your faith?

 

My favorites are reading the Bible and taking Communion.

 

But I also like a tall glass of ice water nearby!

 

 

John 14: 1-7, 32-29

Heaven

John 14 contains all the reminders we need. It holds comfort, guidance, truth and the promise of salvation in the words of Jesus.

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my house there are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may be where I am.”

Jesus the Way to The Father

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

“If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

“The Counselor, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”

“I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

“You heard me say I am going away and am coming back to you. If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.”

 ---

Each of these verses deserves a separate blog entry, for the power within them is immense. They do however, speak for themselves. I feel honored to be able to share so many powerful words of Jesus on one page.

Recently I attended the funeral of a friend's mother. The experiences reminded me of the grief I felt when I lost my parents, brother, and oldest son. Though the sorrow was at times overwhelming, I felt a peace knowing they were resting in the arms of God. I long for others to feel that sense of love and peace that comes only from knowing of, and trusting in these promises of the Lord delivered through Jesus.

Read/Listen to John 14

Joshua 14:6-15

A promise made is a debt unpaid.  ~Robert Service

Promises are broken every day. A father gets too busy at work and forgets his pledge to take the kids to the beach. An employer vows to review his employees once a year and provide compensation where it is earned, but a year and a half goes by and nothing happens. A man pledges to love, honor and respect his bride but after a few years he is unfaithful.

From early on in life we are disappointed by broken promises and as we get older we begin to harden. Our expectations of one another diminish and trust becomes a thing of the past. We begin
to live as skeptics and disbelievers, questioning everything and trusting no one.

"Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.” Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance." (Joshua 14:12-13)

The lesson today reveals a 45-year old oath which Moses made, being fulfilled by Joshua. Caleb, the recipient of this promise was probably worried he would have to fight to be believed after all this time, but not so. Joshua immediately honored it.

It is good to know that God's Word is filled with His promises to us.  And He is faithful to fulfill each one of them.  Is there a promise you are holding on to?  Is there someone you need to be sure isn't let down because our word wasn't solid?   

God's promises are like the stars; the darker the night the brighter they shine. ~David Nicholas

Read Joshua 14:6-15 here

Listen to Joshua 14:6-15 here

Joshua 1:10-18

When reading our Bibles, we often encounter the word promise. Joshua was taking God's people into the Promised Land.  After years of wandering, the promise God made to Moses was about to be realized.  There were other promises as well; like Moses promising some of the people land East of the Jordan.  But they had to first help the rest of the people take possession of the land the LORD is giving them.

The word promise held much esteem.  A promise was not to be broken, often under severe penalty or even death.  A promise was a covenant of great importance, and not to be taken lightly.  Scripture is peppered with promises. There is even a section in my Bible called, Promises from the Bible.

Here are some promises from Scripture:
1 Kings 8:20; Acts 2:39; Gal 3:14; 1 Tim 4:8; 2 Peter 3:9  There are many more.

What meaning does this word have in today's society?  Is a broken promise punishable?  Scripture says to let your yes be yes and your no be no.  To me this means my word should be worth something.  When I make a promise, I am giving my word to follow through with some deed. So much of our lives today are rubbery, and bendable.  We seem to have an 'out', and escape route, when it comes to right living.  It is time to change that; and burying our noses in God's Word will help us to change.

"Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!” (Joshua 1:18)

Is there a promise you have made that you have yet to live up to? Before we pledge our next promise consider how important it may be to the recipient. God promised to bring the Israelites, His chosen, out of slavery and into the land flowing with milk and honey. He fulfilled that oath. God promised to send a redeemer, a savior for mankind. He did. Fulfilling a Promise can changes lives.

Read Joshua 1:10-18 here

Listen to Joshua 1:10-18 here

Remembering Abraham - Genesis 25

There are times in my life when I don’t know where I am going, or if I do, I don’t know how I am going to get there. It is heartwarming to realize that Abraham probably felt the same way at times.

The story of Abraham is an impressive example of how faith grows through experiencing God’s patience and grace amid personal struggles. Abraham isn’t perfect, but he answers God’s call to “Go”. On his journey in a strange land and through strange circumstances Abraham grows from being a man of fear and doubt to a man of great faith.

Abraham shows courage to trust and obey God even when he doesn't understand God’s plan. At the end of his life’s journey, Abraham sees God fulfill His promises to give him a land, a nation, and a blessing of a son in his old age.

Abraham’s faith is expressed by his obedience and trust in God in spite of his circumstances. We face hardships, failures, and successes during our life’s journey. Like Abraham, we have the blessings of God’s promises, patience and grace to make us stronger in our faith; to make it through from beginning to end. How great our God is!

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To read today's text, Genesis 25, on Biblegateway, click here.

Hagar and Ishmael -- Genesis 16:1-16

It is difficult to wait. I get impatient when I must wait for people. I find that I will fuss in my head about doctors who make me wait, cable repair people who don’t arrive in the 4 hour window they provided. It is also hard to remain patient when anticipating something I have dreamed about for years. Attitudes of impatience can be as childlike as waiting for Christmas morning to arrive or as grown up as the feelings that accompany a sixty year old who is counting on retirement someday soon.

The Bible story today explores the promise God made to Sarai and Abram concerning children. God made a covenant with Abram, promising he would become the father of many nations. God did not provide Abram with a date; He did not tell him when he would father a child, only that he would. That was good enough for Abram…for awhile.

Abram got tired of waiting, the physical facts that he was getting very old caused him to doubt God’s promise, so when his wife said, “The Lord has kept me from having children,” Abram agreed. The impatience practiced by this couple changed the world and history.

The saying, "good things happen to those who wait," is often true.  When it comes to waiting for God, it is always true.  His timing is perfect.

Read the scripture text for today at Biblegateway and Genesis:16-1:16

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Promises, Promises Genesis 9

We live in a world where people go back on their word. Husbands and wives betray each other, children lie to their parents. Co-workers and friends betray one another to get ahead. It’s hard to know who to trust. So often those in authority hurt their subordinates to make an extra buck or cover a mistake they made.

As I read today’s passage I can’t help but compare those around me to people in scripture. We see Noah and his family starting life over again after God destroyed the earth because of its evil ways. All of creation is gone and it’s up to a few people who are given a second chance, to do it right. I don’t know about you, but I would be a bit paranoid. I would feel extreme pressure to not screw up.

God must have known that Noah needed some reassurance too, because he makes a promise to Noah. He promises to never destroy the earth with a flood again. This is a promise Noah can count on. He knows God won’t go back on his word. So the next time is starts to sprinkle Noah can jump in the puddles and in the boat.

God keeps his word. Remember that the next time someone betrays you. We worship a God who will never go back on his promises. Life will have its struggles, but we can count on a faithful God.

Read today entire passage on Biblegateway.com Genesis 9

Promises, Promises -- Matthew 28:1-10

Who hasn’t been disappointed by a broken promise? We may even be the culprit who fell back on a pledge, who did not follow through with a commitment.

A business owner who has no respect for his client’s time will keep them waiting long past the scheduled appointment. His word is not dependable, and he soon earns a reputation which reflects this behavior.

The scripture lesson in Matthew 28:1-10 is all about promises, Jesus’ promise to his disciples and to us. Jesus promised to return, to rise on the third day. Jesus keeps his promises whether I believe it or not. When He says, “I will…” we can count on it to be so.

Jesus met the women Mary, and the other Mary, as they left the tomb, and instructed them to tell the disciples to meet Him in Galilee. He promised He would be there. They could depend on it, as unreasonable as it was to think Jesus, who just died, would meet up with them in Galilee, He promised, and he is in the business of fulfilling promises.

This is still true today. We read in Scripture Jesus is with us, He loves us, He forgives us and his death brings us salvation. These are promises we can take to the bank. Praise God!

Read the entire text at Biblegateway – Matthew 28:1-10

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