Promise 1
John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
We note that Jesus says He will Leave His peace with His disciples. It was not to be the transitory peace that the world gives to its followers, nor what the nations call peace when there is no actual war. They were to have His peace and never to be afraid. They were to receive it after He had left them, and it was to be with them in banishment, abuse, beatings, imprisonment and every possible trial (Read the record of Paul’s trials in 2nd Corinthians 11:23-27). We remember also how Paul and those with him sang and prayed when they were imprisoned with their feet in the stocks (Acts 16:24,25), because they possessed the peace that Jesus had left with them, and not even the prospect of death could take it from them.
This was a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7), and if we follow in the footsteps of these faithful ones, we, too, may receive it, and it will be with us, Always.
Dear Jesus, let me know Your peace,
Which you gave long ago,
To those You Loved when You went home,
And set their hearts aglow.
You suffered in Gethsemane,
Oh, give me strength to bear
My trials in peace and patience, Lord,
This is my daily prayer.
Promise 2
Psalms 41:1: “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.”
We should consider the poor, literally poor, or the poor in faith and love toward God. We must clothe and feed them if they need it, and “preach the word in season and out of season” (2nd Timothy 4:2) wherever we may go. We never know when the seed that we have sown will be watered by someone else (if not by us) and will in due time blossom forth in faith and obedience to God. The world is so full of trouble and suffering, we have it on every side. It is our privilege to go forth with love and a helping hand, and, “as we have opportunity, do good unto ALL MEN, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). We repeat, we must preach the Word—ALWAYS, but, many times, performing little acts of kindness will more effectively preach the Gospel and thus lay the foundation for the spoken and written word.
If we cast our bread upon the waters,
It will return to us some day,
For our God will deliver and bless us,
As we travel on life’s highway.
Promise 3
Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”
Here is a most comforting promise when our afflictions seem beyond us, and we cannot understand why such things should happen to us. In times like these, it is well to recall that ALL things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose. Who are the called according to His purpose, and are we in this class? The called are those who have voluntarily entered into the family of God, and they will remain in this relationship as long as they are faithful. And when the veil is lifted that covers our mortal eyes and we behold God as He really is, we will then understand and praise Him for his wonderful works to the children of men (Psalms 107:8).
Child of God, disquieted
With earthly care and woe,
There always is a reason
Why you must suffer so.
And when this life is ended,
You will see and understand
That all the way He led you
Straight toward the Promised Land.
Promise 4
Psalms 37:4,5,23,24: “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.”
The Psalmist states that if we delight in the Lord and commit our way to Him, He will bring it to pass—in other words He will give us the desires of our hearts. But we see there is a condition attached, we must first delight ourselves in Him. When we do this our desires will be in accordance with His will and for good only. God always blesses our spiritual aspirations, and material things are bound up in this promise: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and God delights in his way. If we are fighting the “good fight of faith” (1st Timothy 6:12), we are assured in this verse and many others that if we fall in a moment of weakness we shall not be utterly cast down. We need only to hold fast to the Lord’s dear hand and He will lift us up. He will never let us go even when our efforts are weak and feeble, as long as we love and trust Him.
I shall delight myself in God,
Entrust my life to Him,
And He will fill my cup with joy
Right to the very brim.
My steps are ordered by the Lord,
I may not understand,
But when I walk in paths unknown,
He holds me by my hand.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One