Today I’d just like to discuss some things that I think we, as Bible believers, can be truly thankful for.
I understand that there are around 7,000 promises mentioned in the Bible and they are all reasons to be thankful for, but today I just want to present what I consider to be the greatest promises.
Before we get to that, what comes to your mind when you think of a promise? Do you think of a promise that was broken or one that you kept? Have you known someone that is good at keeping promises? Do you know people that don’t keep promises?
Are you good at keeping promises?
Do you follow through with what you’ve committed to? Do you casually tell people “Sure I’ll be there at 6:00” or “I’ll call you tomorrow” and later think of little reasons why you shouldn’t show up at 6:00 or call them?
I must confess that my actions have not always been consistent with my words and I still catch myself not doing as I’ve said, being late, or just “flaking out” altogether. I’m still working on it. You see I like to please everyone which makes me want to say “yes” to everyone and not always thinking about what I’m “signing up” for.
The very fact that I am more aware of the promises I make and more sensitive to it tells me that I am making progress. That is just one way that God has been changing my heart and I am thankful for that. God has revealed to me that it is another “inadequacy” that I need to give over to Him.
The more I learn about God as I read His Word, the more I realize how great He is. Remember the hymn “Great is thy faithfulness”? Well, I’d much rather talk about His faithfulness than my unfaithfulness.
I know He’s made thousands of promises, way too many to list here, but I have come up with three that I think are some of the greatest promises we have to be thankful for.
Promise 1 – We can get to know Him
This promise is found throughout the Bible. I find it truly incredible that the Creator of the universe desires for us to know Him. Of course, that was the point of creating us, to begin with, so it makes sense.
Hosea 6: 6 I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.
1 Chronicles 28: 9 “And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
Psalm 14: 2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God.
And more from the New Testament:
Matthew 7: 7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
John 17: 3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.
Promise 2 – We can be reconciled with Him
Not only can we get to know Him, but since being separated from God in the Garden of Eden, we can be forgiven for our sins and we can be declared righteous before Him.
Psalm 103
3 He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
…
12 He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.2 Corinthians 5: 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”Galatians 4: 4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”
Promise 3 – We can have eternal life
Psalm 49
15 But as for me, God will redeem my life.
He will snatch me from the power of the grave.Daniel 12: 2 Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace.
Isaiah 26
19 But those who die in the LORD will live;
their bodies will rise again!
Those who sleep in the earth
will rise up and sing for joy!
For your life-giving light will fall like dew
on your people in the place of the dead!John 6: 27 But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”
Romans 2: 7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.
Titus 1: 2 This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began.
How is that for promises? Doesn’t that get you excited? Isn’t it wonderful that in a world where it is hard to find someone to count on, we can always count on God wherever we are?
Just one more promise:
Matthew 28: 18 “… And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
What are you thankful for?
“Dear Lord, Thank you for the many promises you’ve made. Your love for me is overwhelming and I pray that I can love you back. Please teach me your ways and help me to understand and get to know you better. In Jesus’ name, Amen”
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