Promises
Promises! Promises! Promises!
You have probably heard someone use this word this way who has been promised something by someone several times who failed to follow through on the promise.
There are multiple promises in the Bible that our Lord has made to us as people of faith.
The Promise of Daily Bread
“And the Lord said to Moses, I have heard the people’s complaints. Now tell them, in the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know, I am the Lord your God.” (Exodus 16:11, 12)
There can be few sights more pitiful than that of starving children. Through the medium of television most people have been exposed to such images. With these pictures in mind you can imagine the fear that gripped the hearts of the Israelites, after one month in the wilderness they were faced with famine and no visible source of food.
As they turned to their leader, Moses, for an answer to their dilemma, Moses turned to the Lord and was promised meat in the evening and bread in the morning. The Lord promised to supply what they needed on a daily basis. So they should trust Him to do that by collecting only one day’s food at a time, and trust Him to provide double the amount on the eve of the Sabbath. Some didn’t listen and gathered more than a daily portion to store it. It spoiled. What a great opportunity they missed to trust God.
In His “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus emphasized the importance of trusting God to supply our needs. He used the birds of the air and lilies of the field to illustrate His point. “Therefore do not worry, saying what shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Or, what shall we wear? For after all these things the Gentiles seek. (Gentiles were not yet considered a people of faith.) For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But, seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6: 31-33)
I can only remember two times in my adult life that I was without a job. I worked about a year after high school before moving to another state. After relocating, it took me a month before finding another job. The other time, I was married and had two children. Our son had just finished first grade and our daughter had not yet started school. Our house and vehicles were paid for and we were living off our savings. One day during the three months without work we got into our single cab pickup to go to town. My son was sitting between my wife and me and she was holding our daughter. (This was before seat belt laws and appointed places for small children to sit in a vehicle.) My wife and I had been talking about a job possibility. My son, over hearing our conversation, asked, “Dad, will I be able to buy extra milk at school?” This hit me like a ton of bricks. Without giving thought from where extra money would come, I said, “Yes son, you will be able to buy extra milk.” When I got to the end of the drive way I stopped at the mail box. In the mail that day, just minutes after I had made that promise to my son, was a check for $100.00 from a friend who knew that I was without a job.
I have always taught my family that, God will supply the need, when there is a need even though we don’t know yet from where it will come.
The apostle Paul who had been supported financially by the Christians at Philippi expressed his appreciation for their support. Paul shared these words of appreciation. “. . . You have done well that you have shared in my distress. You Philippians know that in the beginning of the gospel when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. Even in Thessalonica, you sent aid once and again for my necessities.” (Philippians 4:14-16)
The apostle shared with them how he had learned to be at peace whether he was prospering or “counting his pennies” because he knew the Lord would supply what he needed. “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry.” Paul wanted the Christians at Philippi to also learn to trust God to take care of them. He tried to reassure them by sharing, “My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:11-12, 19)
Faith in God goes beyond faith in Christ Jesus for salvation. The Lord wants us to trust Him every day to meet life’s needs. Paul shares this truth also with the believers at Colosse, “Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, (by faith in His crucifixion and resurrection) continue to live (by faith) in Him . . . “ (Colossians 2:6)
“. . . Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father . . .”