Promises Promises

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9


Fear is nothing new, not to you or me or even the hero’s in the Bible. Take Joshua for example. God didn’t tell him once, or twice but three different times to be strong and courageous and for good reason. Joshua had no idea what was in front of him as he prepared to enter the Promised Land. Every step he was about to take was a step of faith. Sound familiar in these days of uncertainty as we face the invisible enemy that goes by the name COVID-19. When God told Joshua to be strong and courageous He wasn’t expecting Joshua to do push ups to make himself strong or to well up the courage on his own. God promised Joshua that He, God Himself would be with him wherever Joshua went.

What’s good to know in these crazy days we are living in is to remember that what God promised to Joshua, Jesus Christ has promised to me and you too, loved one. The key word here is promised. What has Jesus promised us you might be thinking? Promises. Jesus hasn’t offered us good intentions, He only made us promises, period. Our bible has approximately 8810 promises within its pages. Thats important to know. Jesus never goes back on His word and why He tells the apostle John to write these words down when John received the revelation of heaven. Revelation 21:5-6 says, “Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.” There will never be a shortage of water in heaven, no water rationing ever!  
 
Just like Joshua, Jesus has promised up a sure victory, that’s what 1 Corinthians 15:57 tells us plainly, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” God promised Joshua a safe guide just as Jesus promised to give the Holy Spirit to all who ask. Jesus told His disciples in John 16:13, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” God also reminded Joshua that He would be with him wherever Joshua went. Jesus told His disciples the exact same thing in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.”  

You can trust an uncertain future to a very faithful and certain God. Romans 5:5 reminds us, “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Rest in the faithfulness of God, loved one, stand on the sure promises of His Word, and rely on the strength that He provides. Put your hope in God today, remembering what was true then is still true today,

 
“They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.”

Psalm 22:5

I LOVE YOU!  



 
 


Michael Osthimer

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