Bible League: Living His Word The Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one that Silas, Timothy, and I told you about was not yes and no. In Christ it has always been yes.— 2 Corinthians 1:19 ERV Jesus made many promises. He said, for example, "'Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life'" (John 3:16). He said, "'Accept my teaching. Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to get some rest. Yes, the teaching that I ask you to accept is easy'" (Matthew 11:29-30). He said, "'I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don't be troubled. Don't be afraid'" (John 14:27). He said, "'I am leaving, but I will come back to you'" (John 14:28). And He promised many other things as well. When it comes to these and all the other promises that God made through Jesus Christ, it is never "maybe." The fulfillment of the promises is never up in the air. The fulfillment is never in doubt or uncertain. It's not that you might receive eternal life if you believe in Jesus. It's not that His teaching is easy some of the time but not all of the time. It's not that His peace might be available when you need it. And it's not like He may return one day, or He may not. The promises of God made through Jesus Christ are nothing like the promises made by people. They stand fast. They are firm. Almighty God backs them up. That means in Christ the promises are always "yes." You can count on them. You can expect them to be fulfilled in your life — in the present and/or the future. If you believe in Jesus Christ, you actually will receive eternal life. If you take up His yoke of teaching, you actually will get rest. If you become His disciple, He will actually leave you with peace. And although He ascended to heaven, He actually will return to earth one day. These promises, and all the other ones Jesus made, are healing balm for the soul. When we believe them, our souls find comfort and rest. When we believe them, our souls find peace with the future. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJeremiah 29, 30 Jeremiah 29 -- Jeremiah's Letter to the Exiles; Message to Shemaiah NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 30 -- God Promises Deliverance from Captivity NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Titus 1 Titus 1 -- Paul Greets Titus and Reiterates His Task on Crete NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.Insight Paul says that his goal is to know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all Christ has in mind for him. This goal absorbs all of Paul's energy. This is a helpful example for us. Challenge We should not let anything take our eyes off our goal—knowing Christ. With the single-mindedness of an athlete in training, we must lay aside everything harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from being effective Christians. What is holding you back? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Hosea 13:5 I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.Yes, Lord, thou didst indeed know me in my fallen state, and thou didst even then choose me for thyself. When I was loathsome and self-abhorred, thou didst receive me as thy child, and thou didst satisfy my craving wants. Blessed forever be thy name for this free, rich, abounding mercy. Since then, my inward experience has often been a wilderness; but thou hast owned me still as thy beloved, and poured streams of love and grace into me to gladden me, and make me fruitful. Yea, when my outward circumstances have been at the worst, and I have wandered in a land of drought, thy sweet presence has solaced me. Men have not known me when scorn has awaited me, but thou hast known my soul in adversities, for no affliction dims the lustre of thy love. Most gracious Lord, I magnify thee for all thy faithfulness to me in trying circumstances, and I deplore that I should at any time have forgotten thee and been exalted in heart, when I have owed all to thy gentleness and love. Have mercy upon thy servant in this thing! My soul, if Jesus thus acknowledged thee in thy low estate, be sure that thou own both himself and his cause now that thou art in thy prosperity. Be not lifted up by thy worldly successes so as to be ashamed of the truth or of the poor church with which thou hast been associated. Follow Jesus into the wilderness: bear the cross with him when the heat of persecution grows hot. He owned thee, O my soul, in thy poverty and shame--never be so treacherous as to be ashamed of him. O for more shame at the thought of being ashamed of my best Beloved! Jesus, my soul cleaveth to thee. "I'll turn to thee in days of light, As well as nights of care, Thou brightest amid all that's bright! Thou fairest of the fair!" Daily Light on the Daily Path 2 Samuel 7:25 "Now therefore, O LORD God, the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do as You have spoken,Psalm 119:38,42,49,54,72,89,90 Establish Your word to Your servant, As that which produces reverence for You. • So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word. • Remember the word to Your servant, In which You have made me hope. • Your statutes are my songs In the house of my pilgrimage. • The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of gold and silver pieces. Yodh. • Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. • Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands. Hebrews 6:17-20 In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, • so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. • This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, • where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. 2 Peter 1:4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. 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