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The Lord swore an oath to David with a promise he will never take back: “I will place one of your descendants on your throne.” Psalms 132:11
A friend of mine was promised an important position in the business he worked for by its owner once he retired. Unfortunately, the owner died unexpectedly leaving the business to family members. When he told them of the promise the owner had made, none of them knew about it or believed him. In fact, upon mentioning the promised position, his position was terminated and he was sent packing.
There’s an old saying, “A promise is only as good as the person making the promise.” There tends to be a lot of truth to that statement. It’s easy to make promises, but making good on those promises? That’s another story. We see that every election season. Promises made to get a vote don’t often result in fulfillment.
The promises of man are fickle, but the promises God gives us can be counted on to be true. The number of promises God gives us is up for conjecture. Suffice it to say there are many.
Psalm 132, is one example of a promise God gave to King David. God promises that David’s throne would last forever and that there would be one to sit on it that would be an eternal King. We know this promise is fulfilled through Jesus Christ. God’s promises are something we can count on for eternity.
But let’s take a closer look at that promise. David was called a man after God’s own heart and it’s because of this that he was promised his throne would be eternal.
The real beauty doesn’t lie in the promise itself, but in what happens after this promise was made. Although David was considered a ‘man after God’s own heart’ he certainly wasn’t perfect. In fact, in many areas he failed miserably. He was a lousy husband, a distant father, a murderer, a bad friend, and the list goes on.
Following David to the throne throughout history, we see a line of Kings guilty of murder, incest, rape, violence, idolatry and rebellion.
But God’s promise, inspite of man’s rebellion held true. He promised messiah would come from David’s lineage and that’s exactly what happened, in spite of the failure of men.
The beauty of God’s promises is that they are not dependent on our performance or character. They are dependent on his power to forgive, love and extend mercy to us knowing full well that we will fail. The struggles we go through now won’t change our destiny. Our problems don’t affect God’s promises. We can count on him!
“Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten.” John 6:23
Memories. They can sneak up on you. You may be driving through an area where something happened (good or bad) and you are instantly transported back to that time. It could be a song, an aroma in the air, or a multitude of other things that bring you back
Imagine what it must have been like for those in the crowd of 5,000+ to experience the miracle of Jesus feeding them from just five small loaves of bread and two fish. The news of the miracle spread as quickly as the disciples could deliver lunch.
“This came from where?”
“How can this be?”
“This is the best bread and fish I’ve ever had! I’ll have more please!”
“Oh, no thank you. I couldn’t eat another bite! It’s delicious! Where did you say this came from again?”
The next day many went back to the spot where Jesus had fed them, but he was gone. He’d moved on to another place. He was on a mission. Jesus never stayed in one place long. He rarely did things in the same way. His methods changed but his mission and message remained the same in every situation.
The people experienced Jesus in a way few of us ever have. Not being able to find him, they went searching. They went looking intently for what Jesus would do next.
Have you ever experienced Jesus in that way? Times when he showed himself in an answered prayer for comfort of strength? Times when the sunrise or sunset reminded you of his beauty and creativity? Storms that have shown you his power? A relationship strained that was reconciled?
It’s good to go back to those times when God has shown himself in a real way. It’s good to have those memories to build on. But memories are in the past and we should never stay there.
Continue to seek Jesus. Continue to draw close to him, to learn from him, to see the new things he desires to show you. Jesus is that same yesterday, today and forever. But he wants to show himself to you in new ways every day.
Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27
Our dog, Oakley, is terrified of loud noises. Fourth of July, thunderstorms, hunting season and any other loud noises he hears will send him cowering to the floor and looking helplessly at us, almost as if to say, ‘Can’t you do something about this?’ Nothing we can do will comfort him. Fear conquers reality in his life. He is in no danger, but fear conquers facts!
All of us are famliar with fear. Sociologists have found that up to 90% of the things we fear never happen, and the remaining 10% were easier to get through than first thought. Fear conquers facts!
Yet, doesn’t the Bible say we should ‘fear the Lord?’ The answer is yes…and no. To fear the Lord isn’t to be afraid of the Lord. God isn’t some angry old man in the heavens with lightning bolts in his hands, ready to zap you with cancer, divorce, financial ruin, lay-offs and political unrest.
Fearing the Lord means we are in awe of His power. Where do you see His power manifest most often? I see God’s power most often in the person of His son, Jesus Christ. The power of Jesus was love, understanding, grace and mercy shown to those who rejected Him. Yet in all this he didn’t stray for the holiness of the Father.
The more we see God for who He is, the more we will revere, honor, serve and emulate him in our lives. To believe God is angry with you for past choices is a lie from Satan himself. Perfect love (God’s love) casts out all fear!
The more we learn about God through His Holy Spirit, the more He will show us the wisdom we need for each and every day. He becomes a life-giving fountain that refreshes us in the droughts, wildernesses and storms of life.
The difficulties we face in life are the consequences of sin not the revenge of an angry God. He promises to forgive our sins but may allow the consequences to help us grow stronger.
Don’t let FEAR keep you from the FACTS!
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 1 John 2:15
“FOMO”
If you aren’t up on the latest slang terms, ‘FOMO’ stands for the Fear Of Missing Out. Those driven by FOMO are always looking for new things to enjoy, always afraid they will miss out on the best things, always looking for a new thrill.
They are like a toddler who can’t keep from being distracted by shiny things. They are only satisfied with what they have until something new comes along. They chase after this rabbit trail and then another and the cycle repeats itself.
What’s the driving force for FOMO? It’s dissatisfaction with what one has and the longing for more. FOMO drives one from one thing to another hoping to find lasting satisfaction. That never happens.
People put chemicals in their bodies to feel euphoria but that never lasts so they go back and try again. “Maybe this time…”
They flit from this relationship to that hoping ‘this one will last.’ And so the cycle goes on.
They work for hours hoping to get ahead while neglecting those their health or family only to get fatigue.
The world offers shiny things. Things that entice you but bring no lasting pleasure. Yet we continue to go back to them hoping that feeling will stay. It won’t.
Don’t settle for the temporary pleasures the world offers. Only God gives things that last. You can’t have it both ways. Don’t let FOMO keep you from the lasting fulfillment only God can bring.
But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! John 15:7
Remaining in Jesus is easy when times are good. When the checkbook balances, when the kids are excelling in good things, when your relationships are strong at home, and at work, when you finish your to do list every single day, it’s easy to remain in Jesus.
During those times, you may thank Him for all of His blessings. You may remember all of his promises and bask in his grace. You may even have the courage to testify to his greatness at church!
But what about those other times? Those times, and every road seems to be a dead end.
Those times when you struggle and strive to make things right and yet nothing seems to work.
Those times when the work that you have to do ahead of you seems overwhelming and you wonder how anything will ever get done.
Those times when you don’t even meet your own expectations, much less the expectations of others.
The gospels are full of people facing hopeless situation’s.
The dad, who’s a little boy would have seizures and throw himself into the fire or water.
The mom who followed the funeral procession out of town for her only son.
The woman humiliated because she was caught in the act of adultery.
The woman whose life was a mess, and after five divorces was living with a man who didn’t even value her enough to marry her?
Jesus makes a statement a couple of times in the gospels about the fact that we can have whatever we hope to have or accomplish. It’s a pretty amazing promise! And it’s one that has caused many to abandon the faith. They asked, and they didn’t receive so they decided the promise was invalid.
But the key to ‘getting what we want’ is being so close to Jesus that we want the same things he wants.
Fame is temporary. Possessions can be lost. Relationships can crumble. Good health that can be taken from you in an instant. Those who thought you could count on, can stab you in the back or throw you under the bus.
Abiding in Jesus is more than attending church on Sunday. It’s more than Bible study. It’s more than prayer. All of those things are good, but abiding in Jesus is more about growing in relationship with Him. When that happens, you find your needs are met more often because your desires have changed.
Lord Jesus, help us to learn what it really means to abide in you. To draw so close to you so that your very thoughts become our thoughts, your desires become our desires, and your ways become our ways.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 