- Joined
- Oct 26, 2007
- Messages
- 12,539
joined their leaders and bound themselves with an oath. They swore a curse on themselves if they failed to obey the Law of God as issued by his servant Moses. They solemnly promised to carefully follow all the commands, regulations, and decrees of the LORD our Lord: Nehemiah 10:29 NLT
It was a promise that would be broken. The people of God believed they could follow the commands, regulations, and decrees of God. They were willing to recognize Him as Lord. But long after Jerusalem’s wall was rebuilt and the people settled into daily living, the promise became less remembered. The praise faded. Worship came to a halt. God’s law became suggestions instead of commands.
You, or someone you know, may have made a promise to God in the midst of desperation. Living for God seemed the best choice. If God could take you from a no-win situation to a place that made sense, then following Him seemed a great choice. But once the desperation diminished, the promise faded into compromise.
A solemn promise only means something when God makes it. Humans routinely take oaths and break them. Maybe that’s why God said to forget oaths and simply say yes and mean it—or say no with similar conviction. God endures your inability to fulfill your promises. He just wants you to keep turning in His direction every time you fail to live up to your promise to follow His commands.
Prayer: God, I don’t know anyone who hasn’t turned his back on a promise. I want to live up to my promises, but I fail. May I make my choice to follow You with a daily “yes”—and mean it.
It was a promise that would be broken. The people of God believed they could follow the commands, regulations, and decrees of God. They were willing to recognize Him as Lord. But long after Jerusalem’s wall was rebuilt and the people settled into daily living, the promise became less remembered. The praise faded. Worship came to a halt. God’s law became suggestions instead of commands.
You, or someone you know, may have made a promise to God in the midst of desperation. Living for God seemed the best choice. If God could take you from a no-win situation to a place that made sense, then following Him seemed a great choice. But once the desperation diminished, the promise faded into compromise.
A solemn promise only means something when God makes it. Humans routinely take oaths and break them. Maybe that’s why God said to forget oaths and simply say yes and mean it—or say no with similar conviction. God endures your inability to fulfill your promises. He just wants you to keep turning in His direction every time you fail to live up to your promise to follow His commands.
Prayer: God, I don’t know anyone who hasn’t turned his back on a promise. I want to live up to my promises, but I fail. May I make my choice to follow You with a daily “yes”—and mean it.
