Category Archives: God’s Promises

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January 28, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, God's Promises, Salvation: A New You, Temptation & Sin

What Does It Mean to Be Born Again?

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” [John 3:3-4 (NLT)]

How does one get reborn? If there is going to be a rebirth or resurrection, there must be a death or crucifixion. If we are going to be reborn, to have a new life, we must get rid of the old one. We can’t become new simply by slathering on a coat of righteousness or virtue as one would a coat of paint. We need an entirely new foundation. To do that, down must come the walls of bitterness, anger, prejudice, pride and any other walls that interfere with our relationship with God and our fellow man. Rebirth is neither easy nor fun; in fact, at times it can be downright unpleasant. But, rebuild we must if we are going to have a new life: one that is right and true and good.

Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. [John 3:5-6 (NLT)]

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January 20, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Forgiveness, God's Promises

Vengeance is His

As much as it is possible, live in peace with everyone. Don’t take revenge, dear friends. Instead, let God’s anger take care of it. After all, Scripture says, “I alone have the right to take revenge. I will pay back, says the Lord.” [Romans 12:18-19 (GW)]

Sometimes it is so difficult to forgive what seems unforgivable. Lord, don’t let us equate giving our forgiveness with approval of the deed or acceptance of the wrongdoing. Let us equate forgiveness of others with our healing and freedom from the burden of our pain and suffering. Help us to forgive and let go of past hurts. Open our hearts to the promise of a better future, confident that your righteous anger will step in when necessary. Punishment is in your job description; it’s your prerogative, not ours.

I will take revenge and be satisfied. In due time their feet will slip, because their day of disaster is near. Their doom is coming quickly. [Deuteronomy 32:35 (GW)]

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January 14, 2014

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Challenges & Difficulty, God's Promises

There Will Be Trouble

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. [John 16:33 (NLT)]

He doesn’t say we “might” have troubles; we will, indeed have difficulties. But take heart, we are never alone.

God has not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God has not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God has promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way.
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
[Annie Johnson Flint]

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December 27, 2013

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God's Grace & Love, God's Promises, Obedience

Look to the Lord

But even there you can look for the Lord your God, and you will find him if you look for him with your whole being. It will be hard when all these things happen to you. But after that you will come back to the Lord your God and obey him, because the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you. [Deuteronomy 4:29-31a (NCV)]

Because of their disobedience, the Lord told the Hebrews that difficult times and suffering lay ahead for them. God, however, also promised that He would neither leave nor destroy them. That promise holds true today. There are times that we, too, will suffer because of our failings, but God will neither abandon nor crush us. Although He will never turn his back on us, we can turn our backs on him just as the ancient Hebrews did. When that happens, we may end up destroying ourselves. Which way will we turn today?

Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will search for me. And when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me! I will let you find me,” says the Lord. [Jeremiah 29:12-14a (NCV)]

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December 15, 2013

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God's Plan, God's Promises

There Were Prophesies

O Bethlehem … you are but a small Judean village, yet you will be the birthplace of my King who is alive from everlasting ages past! … And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God, and his people shall remain there undisturbed, for he will be greatly honored all around the world. He will be our Peace. [Micah 5:2,4-5 (TLB)]

From the time of the exodus around 1440 BC, the Hebrews had been waiting for their promised savior. Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah, and Zechariah all prophesized the coming of a messiah. John the Baptist was making the same prophesy during the time Jesus lived. Yet, what happened? Why didn’t they recognize Jesus when he came? Perhaps it was because they weren’t thinking big enough. Although most of the Jews believed a messiah would arrive and that he would bring a new kingdom, they thought this would simply be a new government for Israel that was not under the rule of Rome. God had much bigger plans for his people. Thank you God, for thinking big and beyond the here and now. The promised Messiah freed us from more than bondage to Rome; He freed us from our bondage to sin. The promised Messiah did, indeed, bring us a new kingdom: the kingdom of God!

“Comfort, yes, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and tell her that her sad days are gone. Her sins are pardoned, and I have punished her in full for all her sins.” Listen! I hear the voice of someone shouting, “Make a road for the Lord through the wilderness; make him a straight, smooth road through the desert. Fill the valleys; level the hills; straighten out the crooked paths, and smooth off the rough spots in the road. The glory of the Lord will be seen by all mankind together.” The Lord has spoken—it shall be. [Isaiah 40:1-5 (TLB)]

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November 29, 2013

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Attitudes & Behavior, God's Promises, Peace of God

You Deserve a Break Today!

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside peaceful waters. He renews my soul. [Psalm 23:2-3a (GW)]

Lord, help us to accept our physical and mental limitations. Don’t let our foolish pride keep us from stopping and taking a rest when it is needed. We need to renew both bodies and souls. As much as we may want to, we need to remember we can’t do it all. That’s your job!