Word of Encouragement (8/14/2020)
The next pair of categories of divine promises are direct promises and promises “implied or deduced by consequences” (p. 6).
“Direct promises are made to individuals, such as Paul on his tempestuous voyage to Rome (Acts 27:22-25), when an angel said to him, ‘Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar; and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee’ (v. 24)” (p. 6). This kind of promise applies only to a particular individual or a group of individuals, to whom the promise is given, and only on that particular occasion. If they got into the same situation on another occasion, it may not lead to the same result (unless God promised that, too). So, in Phil. 1, Paul is certain that God would deliver him from prison. But in 2 Tim. 4, Paul is sure that he would meet his end in the prison.
This is one reason that we have to be careful what we say in our testimonies. Many end their testimonies by saying, “If God can do it for me, God can do it for you, too.” This may be true if what God did for them belongs to the next category of divine promises we will talk about below. But there are many things God may choose to do for some and not for others. It is like our spiritual gifts: even though we have the same Spirit, he gives different spiritual gifts to different people (1 Cor. 12:4). Let us not be envious of others but learn to be content with what God has given to us out of His abundant grace!
The authors characterize the second category of divine promises in this way: “what God promises to one He promises to all who are in an equal state” (p. 6). The authors point out that “in James 5:11, James encourages us to remain patient in suffering by promising God’s blessing to those who remain steadfast. He grounds that promise in the Lord’s dealings with Job” (p. 6). The Bible is replete with such promises. The promises that the Lord gives to the seven churches in Rev. 2-3 are such promises—for example, what the Lord promises to the church in Smyrna: “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10); or, to the church in Pergamum: “To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.” (Rev. 2:17).
What is required of these promises is not some kind of special skill or talent; it is faith and its attendant virtues (such as, steadfastness, patience, perseverance, etc.), which any believer can exercise. They challenge us not to think of ourselves as second-class citizens in the kingdom of God but to cultivate a great faith in our great God, who takes great pleasure in our faith (Heb. 11:6) and uses it to do great things.
Have a blessed day as you accept this challenge and grow in your faith!