Daily Grace At Jesus` Feet

January 30, 2010

Promises Preserved! Faithfully Fulfilled!

The LORD is faithful to all his promises – Psalm 145:13 (NLT)

Blessings are the fulfillment of promises. This declaration, "The Lord is Faithful to all His promises" comes from one of greatest recipients of God’s blessings, David. When God used “headhunt” services of Samuel to recruit a King for Israel after rejecting Saul (due to his disobedience), God desired David for the position. God promised David and at every stages of his life He fulfilled the promise He made with David. Solomon, David’s son who ruled Israel after David also testifies this in 1 Kings 8:15. He says: “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his own hand has fulfilled what he promised with his own mouth to my father David.” Further, God promised to King David that He would enable his son (who will be the King after him) to build a temple for God. Solomon says: “The LORD has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel” - (1 Kings 8:20). Like wise, when God promised Abraham, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants,” Abraham received what was promised (Hebrews 6:14).

Why we should rely on God’s promises? Because of the “attributes” of God!

The attributes of God are a collection of descriptions of who God is from the Scripture. An "attribute" is something God himself revealed to be. God reveals Himself in His attributes and not only in His Names. As you know there are different Names of God, for example, “Jehovah-Jireh” (The Lord will provide), “Jehovah-raah” (The Lord is my shepherd), “Jehovah-rapha” (The Lord who heals), “Jehovah-Shalom” (The Lord is peace) and so on. The attributes of God are of two categories, the incommunicable and communicable attributes in which God reveals Himself. The incommunicable attributes emphasize the absolute distinction between God and the creature. The communicable attributes find some resemblance in man. However, what we see in man is a finite (limited) and imperfect likeness of God as compared to the infinite (unlimited) and perfect attribute in God. The Incommunicable attributes are that God is independent, immutable (unchangeable), infinite. God is not subject to limitations, unlimited in His wisdom, knowledge, kindness, graciousness, compassion, and love etc.,). The communicable attributes are, God is loving, wise, holy, righteousness, and faithful. Even though man may have some of the communicable attributes of God, but he is an imperfect being as opposed to perfectness of God in each of these attributes. One of the incommunicable attributes of God is “He is immutable” that is “Unchangeable”. In simple terms, “God is a promise keeper and not a promise breaker.” In Malachi 3:6, we read: “I the Lord do not change.”   God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind (Numbers 23:9). God will not lie, nor will he change his mind (1 Samuel 15:29). Remember that God does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17).

Do you need any other reason not to believe in the promises of God? When God promised anything in your life He will keep His promises. The Lord always keeps his promises. Apostle Paul encourages in 1 Corinthians 1:20, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through Him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.” As opposed to God, man most times unable to keep his promises due to various reasons. But do you know God desires man, like Him, to keep the promises? God loves those who keep the promises to Him and his people. While answering a question, “who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill,” David answers among other qualities, the quality of those who “keep their promises even when it hurts.”

We take oaths, give vows, and commit promises at various circumstances; work places, marriage, churches, leadership positions, amid friends, toward God. Do we strive to keep those promises? Do we walk the talk? Promise may remain in the mouth level when not fulfilled at the hand level! Do you see how God keeps his promises? We saw above how God, the God of Israel, who with his own hand has fulfilled what he promised with his own mouth to David (1 Kings 8:15). It is better to say “no” and not raise any expectations, not break a promise, and therefore remain true to your word, than to say “yes” and not come through. Are you true to your word? Are you faithful to your promises? When we image God, we do have an obligation to implement this great virtue in our lives. If you desire God to fulfill his promises to you, is it not legitimate to fulfill your promises to Him and others Lord placed in our lives (even if it hurts). The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Booker T. Washington describes meeting an ex-slave from Virginia in his book, Up From Slavery: "I found that this man had made a contract with his master, two or three years previous to the Emancipation Proclamation, to the effect that the slave was to be permitted to buy himself, by paying so much per year for his body; and while he was paying for himself, he was to be permitted to labor where and for whom he pleased.

"Finding that he could secure better wages in Ohio, he went there. When freedom came, he was still in debt to his master some three hundred dollars. Notwithstanding that the Emancipation Proclamation freed him from any obligation to his master, this black man walked the greater portion of the distance back to where his old master lived in Virginia, and placed the last dollar, with interest, in his hands. In talking to me about this, the man told me that he knew that he did not have to pay his debt, but that he had given his word to his master, and his word he had never broken. He felt that he could not enjoy his freedom till he had fulfilled his promise." (Credit: Douglas E. Moore)

God is a Promise Keeper and not a Promise Breaker; He will Preserve His Promises and Faithfully Fulfill it. Do You?

Prayer: Father, please forgive my disbelief in your promises and help me to trust you at all times for you will fulfill all you have promised at the right time. Help me to image you in my day to day living. In Jesus Name…Amen!

May you have Promise-kept Day!


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