A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR…

Imagine stumbling over a treasure chest buried in the ground. You open it, and it’s full of gold coins- millions of dollars’ worth of coins. The bible is somewhat like that treasure chest; but instead of gold coins, it’s filled with something more valuable- the promises of god. Thousands of promises are contained there waiting to be claimed in faith. God wants us to open this treasure chest, then, see and claim all the riches we have in his promises.

We are all familiar with promises. We’re also accustomed to seeing them made and broken. None of us can honestly claim having kept every promise made. Thankfully, there are promises that can be counted on and that we can be certain about. As we read the pages of scripture, we discover the promises of God regarding us and our relationship with him.

Jesus’ life, while living on Earth, was shaped by his trust in the power of the promises of his father in Heaven. When Jesus said, “I am that bread of life” (John 6:48), “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12), “ I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25), he did so fully realizing that he had been empowered with this right by the Father who had promised to raise him from the grave. There were more than 500 brothers and sisters at one time who bore witness to the fulfillment of this particular promise according to 1 Corinthians 15:1-6. A promise from God is a sure thing; it’s solid and reliable.

What about God’s promises to us? What are they? Here are a few of them:

• God has promised to supply all our needs. Paul wrote, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19). This would include all our general needs, such as food, clothing, shelter, companionship, love, and salvation through Jesus Christ. As Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (John 11:25-26).
•  God has promised that His grace is sufficient for us. “But the Lord said to me, ‘my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (II Corinthians 12:9). He has made provision for our salvation by his grace though faith in Christ; and it is through our faith in him that we have access into the grace of God according to Romans 5:2. As John the Elder put it, “if we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9).
  
•  God has promised that his people will not be overtaken with temptation. God assures us that a way of escape will be provided. (See I Corinthians 10:13). Jude wrote: “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy…” (Jude v 24).
  
• God has promised us victory over death. He first resurrected Jesus, and by doing so, assured us of our resurrection. “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, …” (I Corinthians 15:3-4). Remember too Jesus’ words, “The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”
  
•  God has promised that all things work together for good to those who love and serve him faithfully (Romans 8:28). God said this to his people after the fall of Jerusalem, “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’. “ (Jeremiah 29:11).
  

God makes promises to us and anticipates that we will respond by accepting what he’s offering. The promises God are powerful and awesome to grasp. I pray that these scriptures about God’s promises will be helpful to you as you, and we together, move through the month of June and into summer. Let’s all go on a treasure hunt and explore the riches God has placed for us.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Dave Weber