The Promise

Ten years ago this month, I committed to be an adult leader in the children’s ministry for our church.  In all that time, I was proud that I had only missed my assignment once with short notice on the morning of my father’s passing.  And then it happened, one Sunday months ago, when it was my turn in the monthly rotation to lead, I missed it.  I wasn’t even gone from the church, I was just sitting in the service and completely forgot that it was my turn to lead that day.  It wasn’t until after the service was over and Natalie Runyon came up to let me know she had covered it in my place that I realized my mistake.  I was embarrassed that I had forgot and had not kept my commitment to the children with other adults also depending on me to remember.  While that was a first for me in that role, it’s really just the tip of the iceberg in so many times that I’ve failed to keep a commitment that I’ve made in my life.  Maybe you can relate.

In the passage this week, Jesus is teaching again about the values of His Kingdom in regard to the Mosaic Law as people had heard it and what was truly meant by it.  He teaches about really heavy issues that impact our lives today in dealing with being faithful to marital and civil commitments.  Jesus raises the bar every time to His standard of perfection so that we will look to Him in all things – even the commitments we make to one another.

Each of us has failures and victories in keeping our promises, but in all these things, we can learn to trust Jesus more.  Because Jesus never fails to keep His word.  All of His promises are secure and will be fulfilled.  Some might read this passage and focus on what it speaks against.  But if you keep this teaching from Jesus in good context, you should see that Jesus is saying these things to emphasize who he is for.  Do you know who Jesus is for?  The Bible tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”  May each of us today, make no mistake in remembering this – Jesus is not against us, He promises to be for us!  The Great King our souls long for is on our side and always keeps His promise to lead His followers to life and that more abundantly!

Grateful & Hopeful in Christ,

Jon