How God's Promises Are Delivered 預覽

Your Best Treasure Is the Promise Keeper!
by Rev. Curt Seefeldt

Abraham had a concern that wouldn’t go away. While his life was good, God told him to move his family to a new land—sight unseen. After this move, God gave Abraham a multi-level promise. First, He promised Abraham that the new land would be good for grazing his herds and it was! Second, God promised him riches and wealth, and he enjoyed both! Third, the Lord said Abraham would be highly regarded by those around him and that was abundantly true! 

However, there was still an issue. Abraham couldn’t see how God would deliver on the most important promise: a nation of descendants from a person through whom “all the peoples on earth would be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). That person was the one we know as Jesus Christ, our Savior. 

Abraham and his wife Sarah knew it would take many generations for God to deliver on that final promise. Here was their problem! The Lord made that promise to Abraham 10 years earlier when they didn’t have any children, and Abraham was 85 and Sarah 75. For this promise to become a reality, they needed a biological child. 

That’s when the Lord urged Abraham to remember what was really important: “The word of the Lord came to Abraham in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid, Abraham. I am your shield, your very great reward’” (Genesis 15:1). 

Our gracious Lord wanted Abraham to understand the truth by seeing Him deliver on His promises, which was not even Abraham’s most important reward and blessing. His best blessing was his relationship with God who loved him, a God to trust. The Lord wanted Abraham to know He had the power to deliver on His promises at a time of His choosing and the wisdom to deliver them when He knew best. Simply put, Abraham could count on God! 

When we pray for our family’s health or for a change in our earthly circumstances, we may not see the blessings delivered the way we think they should be. That’s when it is easy to make the same mistake Abraham made: we worry. When we are worried, that is the time to remember the Lord’s comforting words: “Do not be afraid, I am your shield and your greatest reward.” (Genesis 15:1)

Through Jesus, we can have a close relationship with the only One who knows our biggest need is the forgiveness of our sins. He provides His forgiveness daily, proving His love and concern for us. It then follows that we can trust in His absolute power to deliver His blessings, large and small, and we can rely on Him to know the best time to deliver them. 

Remember that the Lord decided to ask Abraham and Sarah to wait another 15 years until they saw God’s promise fulfilled. Then, when God knew the time was right, Sarah gave birth to, and held her first baby, at age 90! 

Prayer

Dear Savior, help me listen to your words. They assure me my sins are forgiven each day. Your steadfast forgiveness is the highest proof of your love for me and fully demonstrates your ability and desire to keep all your promises to take care all my needs. 

Help me to keep my priorities straight. Lead me to value my relationship with you above all, so when I don’t understand your timetable for granting the things for which I pray, I still trust your desire to help, your power to grant my request, and your wisdom to bless me in the way and at the time you know best. In Jesus’ name. Amen.