Promises Promises

By Jeff Lucas

What has God promised us freely in His Word? And what promises does it contain that are specific to their time and place, and cannot be taken out of context and scattered around like confetti?
 
In this thoughtful and challenging introduction to the promises of God, Jeff Lucas looks at what Scripture does say, what it does not say, and what we need to do about it. The “promise boxes” of old seemed close to trying to do magic—but that shouldn’t put us off realizing the wealth of principles in God’s Word that applies to our lives, here and now. So read and be encouraged.
 
Bible Daily notes are written by Jeff Lucas to help you apply the lessons of God’s Word daily. Each day and with each devotion, Jeff uses his signature wit and wisdom to reveal insights and practical application you can use in your own life. Each Bible devotion takes only a few minutes to read, but the lessons learned can last a lifetime.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: David C Cook
• Release date: Nov 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9780830780921

Jeff Lucas

Author and speaker Jeff Lucas travels internationally in a ministry of Bible teaching which carries a specific vision to encourage and equip the church.  Jeff is the author of twenty-two books, as well as a number of study guides, booklets and a DVD teaching series called ‘Life Journeys”.  Jeff’s books have been translated into French, Italian, Korean, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese and German.  He writes a monthly column for Christianity Magazine.He broadcasts three weekly radio shows.  Jeff and Kay live in Loveland, Colorado, where he holds a teaching post at Timberline Church, Fort Collins.

Book preview

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CONTENTS

Introduction

Day 1. He’s Not Like Us

Day 2. The God of Promise Is Faithful

Day 3. Able to Deliver

Day 4. God with Us

Day 5. God Will Never Leave Us

Day 6. God Cares for Us

Day 7. Promises for the Whole of Humanity, for Always

Day 8. Promises Lead to Life

Day 9. Judgment Assured

Day 10. Liar Liar

Day 11. Salvation’s Coming

Day 12. Noah

Day 13. Walking with God All the Time

Day 14. The Earth Was In on the Promise

Day 15. Not Just Spared, but Saved for Purpose

Day 16. Noah, Abraham, Moses, and the Big Story

Day 17. Promises Can Lead to Trouble

Day 18. Promises for the Imperfect

Day 19. A Sign of the Covenant

Day 20. A Rewarded Person, a Rewarded People

Day 21. The Promise of a Different Future

Day 22. The Promise of Blessing

Day 23. Being a Blessing

Day 24. On My Life

Day 25. Faith and Promise

Day 26. Moses and the Promises

Day 27. The King of Promise

Day 28. A Kingdom of Priests

Day 29. The Promise of Purpose

Day 30. A Lion from Judah

Day 31. I’ll Build You a House

Day 32. No, Let Me Bless You

Day 33. Responding to the God of Promise

Day 34. A New Covenant Promised

Day 35. A Better Covenant Promised

Day 36. A Covenant for All

Day 37. It’s All in Jesus

Day 38. The Promise of the Kingdom

Day 39. The Holy Spirit and Promise

Day 40. Promises and the Divine Nature

Day 41. The Therefore of the Promises

Day 42. Faithful and Just Forgiveness

Day 43. Prayer and Promise

Day 44. Promised Deliverance in Temptation

Day 45. Sustaining Grace for the Thorn

Day 46. The Promise of Care

Day 47. Wisdom Promised

Day 48. Rewards Promised

Day 49. All Things Work Together for Good?

Day 50. Victory over Death Promised

Day 51. Promised Presence

Day 52. When the Promise Seems Delayed

Day 53. Eternal Life Begins Now

Notes

Introduction

They were called promise boxes. Available from a local Christian bookshop, they consisted of a cardboard box, a few hundred tiny paper scrolls with promises from Scripture printed on them, and a pair of tweezers. The idea was that each day (perhaps after a brief prayer) one should select a promise from God. I didn’t like them, and I still don’t. This seemed like an inappropriate approach to Scripture, which is an unfolding story, not a series of magical formulas. And although I didn’t understand it at the time, God’s promises need to be understood in their context. As we’ll see, we can’t just grab random promises and apply them to ourselves. But in my distaste for the promise box, I’ve realized I have not soaked myself in God’s promises, and have been reluctant to apply or even claim them. Over the next couple of months, as we focus on the covenant-making God who has always dealt with humanity on the basis of promises, may our hearts be encouraged and our faith stirred.

Day 1

He’s Not Like Us

Numbers 23:19–23

Hebrews 10:19–25

Perhaps we’ve all been given hollow promises, from people who were quick with words of assurance but slow to deliver on what they had pledged. Life is full of unfulfilled promises: marriage vows discarded in a moment of temptation and passion; business contracts broken and bills left unpaid. It’s rare that an agreement can be sealed with a word or a handshake. The value of a promise is entirely dependent on the character of the one who makes it.

God frequently lets us humans know that He is not like us. It’s a mistake to teach that God is just like a Father, when Jesus taught that God’s fatherhood is entirely unlike even the best of earthly fathers. And as Scripture points us to the faithfulness of God (1 Cor. 1:9; 2 Tim. 2:13), we realize that God is not fickle and untrustworthy, as we humans are. Obviously our ability to trust is shaped by our experiences, and it may be that we have been deeply betrayed or lied to, and that affects our relationship with God. But in a world of exaggeration, scam, spin, propaganda, and blatant lies, it’s good to know that there is One who is utterly and totally dependable, whose word can be depended on.

And then there are those of us who respond to God’s promises on the basis of our feelings. Too many of us don’t enjoy the scandalous grace and forgiveness of God because our emotions tell us to continue in shame. But our hope is not based on our