April 7, 2014
… “He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethpage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it? Thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’ So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them.” Luke 19:28-32
Just as He Said…
Part One
A man and his word…The promise (a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen; pledge, vow, guarantee, bond, contract, covenant) is one of the oldest human behaviors and relationship characteristics. History has been impacted repeatedly by the power of the promise, those kept and those broken, within the culture of numerous societies. There are over thirty references in the Bible concerning the keeping of promises or vows. Certainly, there are consequences to broken promises…and we all have experienced the disappointment, perhaps pain of a broken and interrupted promise.
One of the most beautiful accounts of a woman’s promise is the powerful life of Hannah as she was afflicted with a sorrowful spirit because she was barren and desired with all her heart to have a child, a male child. In her despair, she turned to the Lord, her God, and petitioned Him promising to dedicate her child to the Lord, if He granted her desire. And in God’s divine providence, He gave to her a male child, whom she named Samuel, meaning Name of God, or Offspring of God. And Hannah in her adoration for her Lord, promised… “For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition…Now, I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life. And they worshipped the Lord there.” 1 Samuel 1: 27, 28 Hannah rejoiced at the gift from the Lord, and she kept her promise to her Lord, God. And Samuel, called by God as a child, became the last Judge of Israel, and faithfully served his Lord, as Israel, God’s people, turned their hearts away from God Almighty. Samuel served as an instrument of our Sovereign God…as He fulfilled His plan and purpose for human-kind, through the lineage that would produce the Messiah…orchestrated through the obedient hands of Samuel, as King David was eventually crowned.
And Hannah rejoiced in her “kept” promise…and the faithfulness of her Lord…
And our family rejoices and awaits the arrival of our grandson, Samuel Eldon…
As the World says…
A man and his word…Our world is filled with broken promises and broken agreements…broken covenants, and contracts. Perhaps there no more per capita than any time in history, but because of increased population and mass and social media, the entire world is privy to almost every broken promise. From dissolved celebrity marriages, athletes on fallen moral platforms, politicians and their broken promises, business contractual disputes, to the very personal family, friend and business relationships, the handshake and the contractual agreements disintegrate on many levels. It is true that some dissolve, not because of original intent, but because of the changing circumstances of life such as a lost job and no ability to pay…Illnesses can rob the ability to fulfill commitments… Other times, it is by choice that a covenant is broken…Skeptics propagate this message in our world, that no one is worthy of trust… a man or woman and their word is only as good as the present moment.
And, unfortunately on a natural and pragmatic platform, this is true…for scripture reminds us. “There is no one righteous, not even one…” (Romans: 3:10,21-26) because all, Jew and Gentile have sinned and fall short of the glory (honor, eminence, praise, magnificence, majesty) and God purposed that He would send the Redeemer that by His blood, through faith, the believing man and woman could have relationship with the Living God, God who does not lie…God who is the Promise-keeper…always..
Even with the best of intentions, man in his natural state, and woman in her natural state, can only work within the power of their natural best….which is breakable and shatter-able and dissolvable…
As the World says…
Our family is currently involved with a broken business contract which has riveted a number of lives, not to mention the challenges which the person’s failure to fulfill the commitment produced for our family. I choose to believe that the contract was given with an honest intention, but none-the-less, the consequences have proven to be life-changing on many tiers, as the person did not fulfill the contract, the agreement, the covenant, the promise to legally perform.
Even with the best of intentions, man in his natural state, and woman in her natural state, can only work within the power of their natural best….which is breakable and shatter-able and dissolvable…
And we all know and have friends and family who at this very moment suffer from a broken promise…perhaps in a marriage…a parent/child relationship, a sibling, a friendship, a business partner, a church…in any possible relationship, it is inevitable that we can and will disappoint, even perhaps fail to fulfill a promise, in spite of a well-meaning and honest intention.
I know of a beautiful lady who lost her husband to a painful and tragic disease. Of course, that was not his choice to develop, suffer from, and to die from this circumstance, and she truly loved her husband and grieved over his absence. She also suffered from anger and hurt because, although he did not choose to leave her, she felt betrayed at the broken promise of his presence with her…even though her wedding vows stated until death do us part…In her grieving mind, he might have passed on, but she was still here and very much alive! Sadly, she felt betrayed…and of course, this feeling passed…but it was real and quite reflective of the consequence of our very humanness. Even with the best of intentions, man in his natural state, and woman in her natural state, can only work within the power of their natural best….which is breakable and shatter-able and dissolvable…
… “He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethpage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it? ’Thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’ So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them.” Luke 19:28-32
Just as He Said…
A promise kept…The disciples had spent days, and hours, and moments with the Christ…they had lived with and learned from and had witnessed the miracles…They had witnessed changed lives…they had been changed…and yet, it was not finished… A promise kept.
We all are in desperate need of the One who keeps every promise…the One who does not betray…the One who does not disappoint…the One who will not forsake or abandon…As Jesus led the way to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration, He was completely aware of what had to occur. And, our lives, our circumstances, our challenges, our desperate needs, do not take Him by surprise…Just as He knew the need for the colt…in order that the matter could be finished…
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9
He knows the details of the needs in our lives…so that every purpose and plan God has for each life can be completed. He is Jehovah Jireh…The Lord who provides… (Genesis 22:13, 14) Just as the disciples found everything, every detail just as Jesus said, we, too, can trust, expect, await, and look forward to the promise, the covenant, the assurance, the bond, the guarantee of Christ Yeshua…His Father…and His Spirit…that everything that He tells us, will be… Just as He Said…
Our neighborhood is grieving the loss of a friend…a man named Samuel who worked for years at our homes, sharing his handiwork with our community. Bill and I had the privilege and honor of knowing this incredible man. For four years, Sam worked for us to enhance our gardens, our property, our home; he built incredible rock walls; and we did life together. We loved hearing the way Sam said our names…Mr. Billy…Mrs. De-bor-ah… Sam lived and worked with courage, strength, honor and love; he loved and served his family. Samuel passed from this earth this past Sunday morning, absolutely certain of His future in Heaven. He left with peace knowing and trusting in his Almighty God…trusting in His Savior, Jesus. There is no doubt, that Sam found the details of his new life, Just as He said… “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.”John 14:2
Jesus went to prepare a place for Sam…for you…for me…
As we prepare for this beautiful season of Hope and Easter, I have treasured reading the Gospels and The Good News of the Redeemer and the Messiah. In one of my Bibles, the account of the days preceding Easter is titled, The Triumphal Entry. As Christ Yeshua walked toward Jerusalem, Luke 19:28, reminds us that He walked ahead of His disciples, leading the way…And I began to think about this, realizing that He knew what He was walking toward…He knew of the betrayal…the betrayal of trust…the arrest, the persecution, the hate, the torture, the crucifixion that awaited Him and He walked ahead of them, His disciples…leading them with full knowledge and revelation of what must occur…what would occur…But He also knew of the miraculous resurrection which would occur on the third day…It was spoken by God; It was written by God; It was ordained by God Almighty…In His Love, His Strength, His Courage, His Obedience, His Truth, His Faithfulness, His Love, His Covenant, His Promise…He leads, He guides, He accompanies, He sustains, He carries, He saves, He redeems, He restores, He fulfills God’s perfect plan…for yesterday, today, and tomorrow…for eternity.
Many hurting and broken people are waiting and searching and seeking the Promise-keeper who is worthy of their trust…The One who will not disappoint…The One who will not betray…The One who will not leave…The One who will not disown…The One who will not abandon…The One who runs toward them with relentless Love…And He waits for that Triumphal Entry into their lives…He waits…He waits…
May hearts be prepared and open for the KING of KINGS to make His Triumphal Entry into their lives…on this Easter may lives be forever transformed…forever changed for the Kingdom…for their eternity…and may these hearts embrace the Promise-keeper who will never disappoint, who will never break His covenant, who will love with redeeming Love, who will be their Savior…and we believe…we know that these hearts will find life…
Just as He Said…
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
May each of you be blessed with a fresh touch from your Savior…as you find everything… Just as He Said…
Abundant Joy,
