Psalm 119:148 "My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises." This past week we've been doing what Psalm 119 tells us to do - we've been meditating on the promises of God. Our school year theme tells us to "Focus" and during this first quarter of the school year, we are focusing on the promises of God. What does it mean to meditate? It means that we really think about what those promises mean. Here are the promises that we've meditated on this past week…
On Monday: God promises to answer our prayers: John 16:23 "Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." Also that God promises to work all the bad things in our life into something good: Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." On Monday we also mediated on the greatest promise God has ever given: John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
On Tuesday, we zeroed in on one main promise, where Jesus says, "I am with you always, to the very end of the age." As Jesus stands with us, we also remember this other promise, "I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more."
Yesterday, we talked about all the false promises that the Devil gives to us, and we remembered Jesus' promise, that we will be blessed if we actually ignore the Devil and focus on his Word and live it: "Blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and obey it."
There is one thing unique about God's promises, as opposed to any other promise that you have ever heard, and that is this - every one of God's promises is guaranteed to come true! Just think about that.
A couple years ago I was at the dentist, getting my teeth drilled because I had a cavity. Have you ever had that done? I don't really enjoy that. I have nothing against dentists or anyone like that, but I don't like getting my teeth drilled. They gave me Novocain so that I wouldn't feel any pain. "You think you gave me enough?" I asked. "Yep, we gave you enough. I promise you, the dentist said, "that you won't feel a thing. Just in case I'm wrong, just let me know." I didn't like that. Just in case I'm wrong? That wasn't a real sure promise - seemed kind of shaky to me. So the drilling began, that high pitched sound with the drill going into my tooth, and sure enough, I felt something - that zing feeling. And the dentist said, "Whoops, didn't mean for that to happen." The drill touched the nerve, and it hurt.
God will never say to you, "Whoops. I made a promise, but it didn’t work out." That will never happen. Every promise God has given to you is guaranteed. If you seek first God's kingdom and God's righteousness, God will take care of all of your earthly needs - a guaranteed promise. If you hear and obey God's Word, you'll be blessed, it's guaranteed. "Your sins are all forgiven" and "Jesus is literally with you always," even right now in this west gym - this is a promise that is guaranteed. You have eternal life, all things in your life will work into something good, all your prayers are heard and answered according to God's will - this is guaranteed. God will never say to you - "I'm promising something to you, but let me know if it doesn't work out." No, every promise God makes is guaranteed to happen.
Do you know how God has guaranteed these promises? He has done something to show you that everything he has ever said will come true. Do you know what God has done to prove that? It's the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus did many things, proved many things, but the one thing that we are highlighting today is this - God raising Jesus from the dead is proof that all of his other promises will come true for you. Every one of them is guaranteed by Easter.
Let's pray: Lord God, we thank you for giving us your promises. We thank you for proving that you are reliable, for guaranteeing that every promise you have made will come true, but raising your Son Jesus from the dead. Help us to be trust you every day. Help us to focus on your promises today and for the rest of our lives. In Jesus name we pray, Amen
