Keeping the promise
Have you ever made a promise you didn’t keep?
We probably all have at some point in our lives. If we’ve been on the receiving end of a broken promise, we know how painful that is. And, if we’ve been the one to break a promise, we’ve felt the guilt.
Webster has a variety of definitions for promise:
- To give one’s word to do or not to do something
- To give cause for expectation
- To give grounds for hope
A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He was righteous and devout. He eagerly anticipated the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he wouldn’t die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Luke 1:25-26
Simeon had hope, an expectation–God had promised him that he would not die until he had seen Christ. When Mary and Joseph took their baby Jesus to the temple to complete the customary rituals, Simeon held Jesus and praised God:
“Now Master, let your servant go in peace according to your word, because my eyes have seen your salvation. You prepared this salvation in the presence of all peoples. It’s a light for revelation to the Gentiles and a glory for your people Israel. Luke 1:29-32
What’s the difference between a promise and a covenant?
According to Webster, a covenant is a solemn agreement, a contract.
For Christians, the term covenant has a deeper meaning. Covenant is used in scripture to denote a binding promise from God.
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:31-34
Christians believe that the coming of Jesus is the fulfillment of the new covenant proclaimed by Jeremiah. At the Last Supper, Jesus said:
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Luke 22:20
And, we know the completion of that promise:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17
But, what is our response to God’s new covenant, Jesus Christ?
We know that God’s promises are trustworthy. Are ours?
We know that God loves us. Do we doubt of that? What is our response to God’s promise of eternal love and life?
Jesus tells us how to respond to this New Covenant.
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it. ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.” Matthew 22:37-38
This can be our promise to our Lord.
Thank you for sharing clearly the message of God’s covenant of hope.
Thank you for your encouragement, Jimmie. We don’t deserve the blessings God promises and gives us through His covenant of hope and love, but Praise the Lord for His grace!
Amen! It’s funny how I just had a conversation with a pastor who recommended I try, “Putting on love.” I’m hanging out in Israel this week with some church members, and it’s awesome to walk in some of the places where God’s promises of old occurred.
You’re in Israel! That’s SO awesome–to walk where Jesus walked, taught and brought together His people. Wishing you a safe and blessed journey, my friend.
I love that you point out that we can keep the promise with just that one simple word: LOVE! And I absolutely love this verse: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
Thanks for the reminder!
Love can bring us together. It seems so simple, yet it’s so hard to do. But, we can make a difference–each one of us! Thank you for the love you share, my friend.
God is a promise keeping God. I am learning to rely on His strength to keep my promises, and also to live under grace when I don’t. His love for me propels me to seek to love Him and others.
Aren’t we blessed that our God is trustworthy and faithful, even when we fall short? Yet, he loves us so much that His love shines through us to be a light for others. Thank you for sharing your love with others, Joanna.
Thanks for a clear explanation of a promise and a covenant. How wonderful that we never need to doubt that God will keep his promises to us!
Thanks for your encouragement, Beckie. Isn’t it wonderful that we can always depend on God–to know that He is always trustworthy?
Katherine, you did a great job explaining promises and God’s covenant. I love the way you ended with a promise we can make to God.
Thank you, Jeannie! I’m grateful for your encouragement. On this beautiful sunny day that promises the coming of spring, I’m so thankful that God is trustworthy to keep His promises and, most especially, for His guidance in leading us to respond to His great gift of love.