“… and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.” (Joshua 23:14 ESV)
Secularization has removed many people from the very idea of blessing and curse at/from the hand of God. There is little sense of following what the Lord has in mind and seeing that the “worship of other gods” brings judgement.
No matter what the event – stock market crash, property boom and bust, war and famine – there always seems to be a reason to explain it away. There is every excuse under the sun rather than the acknowledgement that each of these events has its origin in people seeking after other gods and the result is God’s judgement upon their actions. Anyone who might suggest such a thing risks the ire of the many who would rather not face an inconvenient truth.
When we cease to rely on the promises of God the temptation is to find our satisfaction and solace elsewhere. Believers are not immune from such judgement from the Lord, temptation from other gods has always been a fact in a life of faith – hence the need to remind oneself that the Lord does keep his promises to those who walk according to his ways.
A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us.” (Heb. 12:1 NIRV)
“… if you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you.” (Joshua 23:16 ESV)
“I’m filled with joy because of your promise.
It’s like finding a great fortune.
163 I hate lies with a deep hatred.
But I love your law.” (Psalm 119:162-163 NIV)
“The Lord will keep all his promises.
He is faithful in everything he does.
14 The Lord takes good care of all those who fall.
He lifts up all those who feel helpless.” (Ps. 145 13-14 NIV)
“God has made a great many promises. They are all “Yes” because of what Christ has done. So through Christ we say “Amen.” We want God to receive glory. 21 He makes both us and you remain strong in the faith because we belong to Christ. He anointed us. 22 He put his Spirit in our hearts and marked us as his own. We can now be sure that he will give us everything he promised us.” (2 Cor. 1:20-22 NIV)
“Standing on the promises of Christ my King
Through eternal ages, let his praises ring
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing
Standing on the promises of God
Standing, standing, standing on the promises of God, my Saviour
Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God”
