Pastor's Thoughts - August 2020
August 2020
A Thought from Pastor Bryson,
The songs of the church and the Bible are vitally important to our spiritual well-being. As we are living in this time of uncertainty – many people are being overwhelmed with fear and hopelessness. One old song of the church (seldom sung nowadays), offers encouragement as we live life in the midst of uncertainty and fear. That song is “Standing on the Promises of God.”
The second stanza says – Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God…”. Note what it says – standing on the promises that cannot fail. Gods promises are certain, dependable. God will do what He said He will do. The other wording in that stanzas is just as important – by the living word of God I shall prevail. God’s word can be trusted because it is living and powerful (Hebrews 4:12).
Max Lucado in his book – Unshakable Hope, states that the promises of God are irrevocable because of who God is:
God is unchanging. He sees the end from the beginning. He’s never caught off guard… He is not victimized by moods or weather. “He never changes or casts a shifting shadow” (James 1:17 NLT).
God is faithful. “God can be trusted to keep His promise” (Hebrews 10:23 NLT).
God is strong. He does not overpromise or underdeliver. “God is able to do whatever He promises (Romans 4:21 NLT).
God cannot lie. “It is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18 NLT). A rock cannot swim. A hippo cannot fly. A butterfly cannot eat a bowl of spaghetti. You cannot sleep on a cloud, and God cannot lie. He never exaggerates, manipulates, fibs, or flatters. This verse does not say it is unlikely that God will lie or improbable that God will lie. No, the statement is clear; it is impossible! Scripture could not be more forthright. “God… cannot lie” (Titus 1:2 ASV).
As people who profess faith in God and His word, we have every reason not to be overwhelmed with fear and hopelessness. According to Max Lucado, one student of scripture spent a year and a half attempting to tally the number of promises God made to humanity. He came up with 7, 487 promises.
So, let’s get busy engaging ourselves in the word of God remembering the words of that old song – by the living word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God. One of His promises – Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen (Matthew 28:20).
