Monday Reflection \u2013 November 15, 2021
God\u2019s Faithful Promises<\/p>\n\n\n
Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I, the\u00a0Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places, and replanted that which was desolate; I, the\u00a0Lord, have spoken, and I will do it.\u00a0Ezekiel 36:36<\/p>\n\n\n
As humans, we many times treat with the promises of others with scepticism. Thus we often say things that trivialize promises such as, \u2018A promise is a comfort to a fool\u2019. Such scepticism is sometimes caused by the bad experiences of the past where others have failed to fulfill promises that they have made. The truth is that some persons rush to make promises, some not considering whether they can fulfill such promises, and some even knowing that they cannot fulfill same. We make promises ever so often, not just by saying, \u2018I promise\u2019, but when we surrender our lives to Christ, when we dedicate our children, when we are being ordained or commissioned to church leadership, when we are getting married, when we recommit our lives to Christ etc, we make promises.<\/p>\n\n\n
In the midst of mistrust for promises made and unfulfilled promises, we have a God who makes promises and keeps them all. In Ezekiel 36, God offers hope to the people of Israel by establishing a new Covenant with His people and the land. God offers eight promises – to renew the land of Israel; to establish a new covenant\u00a0for the\u00a0renewal of\u00a0the people of Israel; to cleanse filthy Israel; to gather scattered Israel; to spiritually renew Israel; to bless the land and her agriculture; to restore the desolate places; and to restore their\u00a0relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n
Today\u2019s Watchword reveals that God was not just doing His restorative work for the sake of Israel, but that His actions would be a powerful testimony to a world that was watching. The\u00a0nations around that are left will witness and know assuredly that God has rebuilt, replanted and restored. The\u00a0full work of the new covenant would proclaim the greatness of Yahweh.\u00a0The results of the restoration would\u00a0lead to the repentance of the people and the return of all the prosperity which through sin they had forfeited. It would also mean a renewal of their witness to the nations round about of the power, grace and love of God.<\/p>\n\n\n
When God acts in our lives, it is not just for our benefit, but that through us God will be seen and heard and believed. There are many people who ridicule the church today and the people who are in it.\u00a0Many who have nothing to do with God. Some are at this position because of our shameful actions and attitudes that have defamed the name of God. Whatever the reason, God will not sit by and allow His name to be stained. God intervenes and sometimes interrupt our situations so that His integrity and character remains intact. \u00a0When God acts, all witness that He is at work. It is no wonder that the verse ends, \u201cI, the\u00a0Lord, have spoken, and I will do it.\u201d\u00a0To remove all doubt and to assure the trust of His people, God gives a solemn oath regarding these promises.<\/p>\n\n\n
We who represent God ought to be faithful to our promises to God and others, so that the world may see God through us. Yet, in our many failures, God shows Himself real and faithful to the world so that all will know that He is sovereign and true. God\u2019s promises are trustworthy, because God is trustworthy, and God honours His word above His name (Psalm 138:2).<\/p>\n\n\n
Jermaine Gibson<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Monday Reflection \u2013 November 15, 2021 God\u2019s Faithful Promises Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I, the\u00a0Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places, and replanted that which was desolate; I, the\u00a0Lord, have\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"template":"","watchword_topic":[12],"class_list":["post-679","watchword","type-watchword","status-publish","hentry","watchword_topic-hope"],"yoast_head":"\n