Promise Keeper

"But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no';

anything beyond this is of evil."

Matthew 5:37

Tomorrow we're back at it - continuing in our study of the Emmaus Road Gospel. As I was looking over my notes for the morning (and I'll warn you all, it's a long lesson...sorry!), I want to start with a review to get us off to a good start, and here's the thought that kept coming to mind as I looked over the fall notes - God is a promise keeper.

Now, this is not that profound of a declaration because one of the main themes of our study has been the covenants (hint, hint - we may be reviewing them...). But after thinking about God, His promises, how He keeps them, His plan to keep ALL of them and what a thorough God He is, I realized that we humans are promise breakers.

Again, not another astounding revelation from Kristen. But just look around. Divorce is a common broken promise, but let me make this more personal. I'm a mother and I know I have broken promises to my children. I've told people I would pray for them and I forget. I've said I would be somewhere at a certain time and I don't make it. I commit to going to a wedding and then find an excuse not to go. I make new years resolutions that fade away by the first turn of the calendar page.

Now, I wouldn't call myself a habitual liar and I will add that normally I intend to do what I promise, but I just don't always follow through.

God is NEVER like that.

He is a promise keeper.

He says it. He means it. It's done.

So when Jesus said He would die for my sins before He ever said, "Let there be light," it was a done deal. There was no suspense at Calvary. The angels weren't watching in the heavens, wondering if He'd go through with it. They wonder about me all the time, but they never wonder about Jesus. They know God is a promise keeper.

He promised it. It's done.

So then I come upon the verse above and it suddenly makes a lot more sense in light of who God is - my 'yes' needs to mean 'yes', and my 'no' needs to mean 'no' because then I am imitating my Creator rather than the usurper. Every time I don't imitate God, it is evil. Every time I break a promise, it is evil.

This year let's work on being a promise keeper like our Promise Keeper. Let's not say things we don't mean - if we say we will pray for someone, we'd better do it because it is evil not to do so. If we don't want to do something, we'd better say 'no' and be honest about it. And let's just be more aware of the words that come out of our mouths in general. That's a good idea, isn't it?

Can't wait for the morning - you all had better get a good night's sleep, because you're going to be worn out by the time lunch comes tomorrow...