In Touch Devotional 23rd October 2024, By Charles Stanley, Wednesday Message
TOPIC: The Promises of God
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 10:19-23
God made many promises in the Bible. But there is confusion among Christians about which verses we can claim as a definite commitment from Him. Three questions are useful in determining whether divine promises apply to our personal situation:
- Is this promise limited to a specific individual or circumstance, or does it apply to all believers? For example, the pledge made to Abraham and Sarah about the birth of their child (Genesis 18:10) is restricted to them. But Hebrews 13:5 contains a guarantee to all Christians that Jesus will be with them forever.
- Are we asking the Lord to meet a need or a desire? A need is something that we must have in order for God to complete His work in our life. A desire is something we want for satisfaction.
- Before fulfilling a promise, does God require some action on our part? Proverbs 3:5-6 is a conditional promise, which pledges God’s direction on the basis of our trust in Him. On the other hand, Jesus’ assurance of His presence with believers is unconditional; it does not depend on anything we do (Matthew 28:20).
By evaluating Scripture on the basis of these questions, we’re able to know which promises apply to our own circumstances. And remember: As 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV) says, “No matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.”
Bible in One Year: Luke 6-7
Thought fro Today: How do we know which part of God’s Word applies to our current situation?
