April 7, 2019
Just as He Said…
The Promise-Keeper
“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 NASB
The TRUTH…we all need the Promise-Keeper who is worthy of our trust, the One who will not disappoint, who will not betray, who will not have to reschedule an appointment, who will not disown, abandon or forsake, who will not deal in untruth, or dishonesty…
His WORD is His PROMISE! And, He Gave His WORD…And, He Keeps His WORD!
Even the most well-intentioned people struggle to keep every promise they make. Although, I believe, we as God’s people, must strive and labor to be people of our word, life has a way of tricking us or running interference with our plans and our own promises to others. The most pain presents itself WHEN I, unintentionally, break a promise to a loved one, or a close friend…the ones to whom I proclaim my faithful devotion and allegiance. And, likewise, when someone we love and trust breaks a promise to us, the impact can be shattering.
Yes, we all have experienced some type of devastation from a broken promise. The Truth…even the most well-intentioned person, struggles to keep every promise made, to keep a shared confidence locked away safely, to fulfill every time commitment, every legal commitment, every vow made, every promise made.
In the lives of every person, feelings, circumstances, and capacities (some we are able to control, while others are beyond our control) have significant impact on our lives and the lives of others, especially our loved ones. And because, we are people, we live with human limitations and weaknesses, and broken promises to loved ones, friends, and even to God…
We all need the Promise-Keeper. The One who tells the Truth…The Glorious Truth and the Pain-filled, necessary TRUTH
Jesus Knows the Hearts of All People…
One of the many profound accounts of God’s Truth-Keeping and Promise-Keeping occurred following the Passover meal, as Jesus and His disciples made their way to the Mt. of Olives, the day before Jesus would voluntarily go to the cross. During their walk, Jesus foretold of the desertion by those closest to Him, which had been foretold by the prophet Zechariah (Zech. 13:7), more than five centuries before the birth of Christ. On this particular evening, I think you and I can identify with Peter’s earnest, and passionate response to his LORD…
“But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” Matthew 26:33 (NASB)
“I will never fall away…” My heart wrenches as I personalize Peter’s circumstance, his whole-hearted devotion to the Messiah, and, assuredly, his word given with the most well-intentioned promise. Peter loved Jesus with all of his human heart, and had identified Him as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God; Jesus had commissioned Peter for Kingdom Work. (Matthew 16:13-20)
I suspect that each one of us has found ourselves in similar circumstances where we have made a promise, out of love, devotion, and intention, to our loved ones, friends, and yes, even to God…only to find ourselves much like Peter. But, the Man of Truth confronted Peter,
“…Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Matthew 26:34 (NASB)
And, on that very evening, and into the early morning, Peter, distraught and terrified over the arrest and unjust trial of the Messiah, following-but keeping his distance, denied Jesus, three times: one…two…three…Just as Jesus Had Said. And, Peter, suddenly aware of what he had done, crept away, weeping bitterly, his heart torn apart by his denial and his broken promise.
Peter needed the Promise-Keeper…
The One who tells the Truth…
The One who keeps His Word…
The only One who Keeps All of His Promises.
And, Peter discovered…
One Encounter With Jesus Changes Everything!
The Gospel of John concludes with the account of Jesus’ breakfast with His disciples, following His Resurrection. In these final moments, Jesus, knowing the heart of Peter, intentionally and lovingly restored His disciple, assuring him and commissioning him, once again, to the Kingdom-Building assignment Jesus had for Peter, the disciple who had denied him, not just once, but three times. And, Peter, found that All things and Everything was and would be Just as Jesus Said…
As we continue on our Journey to Easter, may we draw near to our Promise-Keeper, who loves us perfectly to tell us the truth about ourselves, and who Loves us perfectly to Keep every Promise, to forever Keep His WORD, to us and for us. His Love holds us in His own Heart, pouring His Grace and Mercy over each one of us, in spite of our own mess-ups and broken promises. Yes, my friends, the LORD’s grace and mercy, is for you and for me…just as it was for Peter.
After all, He came for you and me, and for all of the other promise-breakers in this world, offering them forgiveness, restoration, grace, and mercy. The Truth, all people, our neighbors, our work-associates, our friends and families, all people, are desperate for The Promise-Keeper. The same God who spoke Creation into existence, is the same God who is accomplishing everything He has spoken and is keeping everything He promised.
As we draw nearer to our destination, may we continue to walk in His Way of integrity, overflowing with grace, mercy, and forgiveness, toward other promise-breakers. May we live, so others will desire to Come and See Jesus for themselves…He is their Promise-Keeper!
And may we always hold to His Truth. His WORD, was proclaimed and sent out, and is being Accomplished and Fulfilled. The LORD, our Promise-Keeper Gave His WORD…
And, He Keeps His WORD!
Just as He Said…
Love you in Jesus,
