I was once dragged into a highly charged discussion about the failure of certain politicians to keep their campaign promises. The discussion veered into a theological one when someone simply asked: “How many promises did God make in the Bible?” For many years, it was believed that there were 30,000 promises in God’s Word—that every verse is a promise. In 1956, however, Canadian schoolteacher Everet Storms—having read the Bible for the 27th time—completed the task of tallying up its actual promises. He counted a total of 7,487 promises made by God to man. So if we were to claim just one promise a day, it would take 20 1⁄2 years.
Hours before He was crucified, Jesus gave a number of promises to His discouraged disciples. Jesus promised that…
• He was preparing a place for them (John 14:2).
• He would personally bring them to heaven (John 14:3).
• They would live with Him forever (John 14:3).
• They would know the Father (John 14:4-12).
• He would answer their prayers (John 14:13-14).
These are but five of the thousands of promises God has given to us. Can we be sure that He will fulfill one of them?
Like Abraham (Romans 4:21) and Joshua (Joshua 21:45, 23:14-15), and with unequivocal confidence, the apostle Paul boldly declared: “As surely as God is faithful . . . Jesus . . . does not waver . . . . He always does what He says. For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding ‘Yes!’ ” (2 Corinthians 1:18-20).
A promise is only as good as the ability and the integrity of the one making and fulfilling it (Numbers 23:19; 1 Kings 8:56; Psalm 146:6). Jesus says to you and me regarding His promises, “Trust also in Me!” (John 14:1). Will we?
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Esther 4:1-17
More:
In Romans 4:21, Abraham “was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises.” Why was Abraham convinced? (vv.13-22).
Next:
Of the promises Jesus gave in John 14:1-16, which is the one you find most assuring? Most comforting? Why? How do you know God will keep or has kept His promises?
Aganos on May 5, 2012 at 2:16 am
Amen! Amen! Amen! Thank you Lord for your faithfulness that endures forever.God bless you Sim for the encouragement.
Luciana on May 5, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Yes, it is the only thing I trust in – Jesus. And I live for Him and His promise of me being with him for the eternity.
winn collier on May 9, 2012 at 11:24 am
The promise of God’s love in Jesus seems to be the promise that binds all the others, doesn’t it? I’ll bank on that one.
luke1618 on October 2, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Does anyone today realize that Marriage is a Covenant for LIFE?
“A wife is married to her husband as long as he lives.” 1 Corinthians 7:39
“Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.” –Jesus Christ