But, Lord, You promised!

The old gospel song was a standard in Sunday night services. It invited God’s people to be ‘standing on the promises of God.’  Promises are a wonderful thing, especially when you know that the one who makes them is trustworthy.  It is important, however, to know what His promise is, not just what you want it to be. Christians sometimes pull a verse out of the Bible and turn it into something that the Spirit never intended it to be. When it appears that the Lord has not kept His promise, their faith takes a real hit and, sometimes, they even walk away bitter and disillusioned, thinking God has failed them.

As Jesus was about to begin His public ministry, Luke tells us that the Spirit led Him into the desert where He was tested for 40 days!  While He prayed and fasted, the devil came to Him. The third temptation is one we need to note with particular interest. "Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He orders his angels to protect and guard you. And they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.’ ” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘Do not test the Lord your God.’ ” When the Devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came." (Luke 4:9-13, NLT)  Isn’t that amazing? The Devil quotes the Holy Word! He takes a promise of God and twists it into permission for foolishness! “Go ahead and put yourself in harm’s way, Jesus.  God has promised that He will rescue You.”  Jesus treats the Word with reverence and puts the promise into the full context of God’s revelation. He tells the devil that God has promised protection. He doesn’t have permission to presume on His Father’s power.

Jesus alludes to a passage in Deuteronomy 6. The full text says, "Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah. Be sure to keep the commands of the LORD your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. Do what is right and good in the LORD’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers." (16-18, NIV)   Massah was the site where the Israelites complained about a lack of water. Instead of just presented the need to the Lord, they turned it into a reason to gripe and to doubt. When they were thirsty, they questioned, “Is the Lord with us or not?  Why did He lead us out of Egypt to let us die?”  (Exodus 17:7)  In a real sense, they were thought they needed to pressure God to keep His promises, instead of relying in full faith on His provision! Moses reminded the people that God had, and always would, provide for them if they would remain obedient and faithful at all times. They did not need to bribe, bully, or beg to get His attention. They only had to walk with Him.  He would do what He said, for He trustworthy and true.

We will come to times in our lives where we are tested, too.  With our limited vision, it may appear that God is not keeping His promise. The temptation in such times is to cry, “Why? But, Lord, You promised!”  Jesus shows us a better way than to test Him with our whining or reluctance to serve.  Jesus shows that we must trust and obey, not testing His patience or grace.  When we live in full faith we will not demand anything from God even as we rely on Him for everything!  We will not argue for an easier call, beg for a different way, or doubt when things go wrong.  Instead, we will deepen our faith – asking only to be led by His hand. And, He is faithful.  If we need a course correction, He will lead us.  If we are to walk through the valley, He will be there with us.

Stand on the promises of God!  Let them bring you such a radical assurance that your faith is unwavering, your obedience complete.  Here’s a word of promise from our Savior. Note the interplay of promise and obedience.  When we trust Him enough to obey without question, our will aligns with His in such a way that we are empowered in wonderful ways.  Meditate on this and live it. "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love." (John 15:7-10, NIV)

___________

Take My Life

Take my life and let it be,
consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet and let them be

Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing

Always only for my King.

Take my lips and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold

Not a mite would I withhold

Take my intellect and use

Ev'ry power as You choose.

Here am I, all of me.

Take my life, it's all for Thee.

Take my will and make it Thine,

It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart it is Thine own

It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord I pour,

At Your feet its treasure store.

Take myself and I will be

Ever only all for Thee.

Chris Tomlin | Frances Ridley Havergal | Henri Abraham Cesar Malan | Louie Giglio

© 2003 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055