Rescued with a Promise

• Has anyone ever broken a promise they gave you?
• Have you ever experienced someone backing out even though they had previously committed?
• Or how about “I give you my word” and then they change their mind?

 
I am guessing most of you have experienced that at one time or another. Maybe you even need to confess that you have been the one that was counted on, only to leave someone else hanging because something else came up or you had another option that you preferred. The world largely functions because people follow through on their commitments and obligations.
 
We count on this in business, where contracts are upheld, and orders are fulfilled for the agreed upon price. We count on our kids being picked up by the bus at the scheduled time and we expect the teacher that is being paid to show up to deliver the goods of educating our children. We expect the roads to be plowed and traffic lights to be in working order because that is the commitment our government makes since we paid our taxes. I expect that when people commit to serve in many different ways at Oak Hill they will mark their calendar and make it a priority in their schedule.
 
Life is so much more enjoyable when everyone we are counting on follows through and we can rest in their commitments. Last minute cancellations or not following through puts a strain on my peace of mind.  I am continually amazed with the number of people in our Oak Hill family that step-up year after year to give their time, energy and resources to serve in so many ways.
 
As good as things are here at Oak Hill there are times when we fail each other. There are times when we don’t step up or remember to do what we committed to a while back. Aren’t you thankful that this never, ever happens with our God? God is unchanging and completely dependable every single time. This Sunday we will see in Galatians 3 that God has always been a promise keeping God. We are rescued with an ancient promise that was fulfilled in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
 
God spoke a promise to Abraham that “all the nations will be blessed through you” way back in Genesis 12. The Chosen People of Israel were God’s chosen way to bring about the Savior of the entire world, not just Israel. All the Old Testament prophecies and the sacrificial system were ultimately put in place to drive us to the work of Jesus - the long awaited promised ONE. He is the great deliverer. All of God’s promises are accomplished in Jesus.
      And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.     
                                                                                                                                      Galatians 3.29
 
Faith placed in Christ can bring peace and joy. God’s promised grace and mercy brings us to His powerful  judgment seat with confidence that we are in God’s family, just like Abraham. We become full participants in the inheritance. We have our place at the family table because God chose to pour his love out on us. He promised, and we take Him at His Word with complete confidence.
 
Rejoicing in our Promise Keeping God