If you listen to the news, you’ll hear a lot of people say a lot of things. And you can’t believe most of it. Politicians often tell us they are going to accomplish something. They usually don’t call it a promise anymore, because they realize that it looks bad when they can’t deliver. Maybe they also realize they usually don’t have the power to guarantee it anyway.

Promises usually come also with some  reference to a source of authority. Jesus even had to criticize people for swearing, making promises about what they would do in the future, in God’s name. So often people are unable to come through with their promises. We can’t see the future. Unforeseen circumstances keep us from doing what we want in our hearts.

God is not like either of these scenarios. He is not afraid to promise – even when it comes to big things. His promises to Abraham, to Isaac and Jacob were huge, and God came through powerfully, faithfully. And since God has no higher authority to base his promises on, he can promise in his own name. When God says he is going to do something, we do well to believe him.

God has promised that if we respond to him, he will forgive us. He has promised the presence of his Holy Spirit, not just close-at-hand, but within. Jesus promised that he would return, declaring that he had authority in heaven and on earth. What other promises can you remember from scripture? Hoe do God’s promises affect the way you respond to him, the way you live daily?

Let’s end today with a promise from the book of Hebrews:

When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” This means that the things on earth will be shaken, so that only eternal things will be left.

Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful  and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 12:26-29Hebrews 12:26-29
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
26 . When God spoke the first time, his voice shook only the earth. This time he has promised to shake the earth once again, and heaven too. ²⁷ The words “once again” mean that these created things will someday be shaken and removed. Then what cannot be shaken will last. ²⁸ We should be grateful that we were given a kingdom that cannot be shaken. And in this kingdom we please God by worshiping him and by showing him great honor and respect. ²⁹ . Our God is like a destructive fire!

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