Serving God -John 12:25-26

I haven't been as good posting lately, (I'm blaming that for a lot of school and being on vacation), but I thought I'd get something in tonight.

"He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor."

Hope of the Afterlife -1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."

A House Not Made With Hands -2 Corinthians 5:1,5

"For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

How do we know this promise is true? God has given us His Spirit as a guarantee:

"Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee."

If only we lived with this heavenly perspective all of the time.

The Gift of Eternal Life -Romans 6:20-23

"For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Trust in the LORD -Psalms 21:1-7

This is a longer passage, but I thought it was important to share the last verse I picked out, as it gives perspective to all the other verses. The reason the king receives all of these promises is because He trusts in God.

Reading these promises is a great encouragement for us to do the same!

"The king shall have joy in Your strength, O LORD; And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! You have given him his hearts' desire, And have not withheld the request of his lips. For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head. He asked life from You, and You gave it to him - Length of days forever and ever. His glory is great in Your salvation; Honor and majesty You have placed upon him. For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD, And through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved."

I also wanted to point out that I do not believe that these promises will necessarily be experienced in their entirety here on earth. Some of these promises find their fulfillment once we reach heaven.

And that just gives us something to look forward to.

The Power of God's Word -Psalms 19:7-11

This passage is a great promise regarding God's Word, (The Bible), and the power it can have in our life.

"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; The statues of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward."

Awake In Your Likeness -Psalms 17:14-15

These verses are encouraging, simply because it is a clear reminder that ultimate fulfillment is found in God.

It's the promise of things yet to come.

I have to add here that verse 15 always excites me, as I read "...I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness." Wow. What a hope!

"With Your hand from men, O LORD, From men of the world who have their portion in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their possession for their babes. As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness."

Coals of Fire -Proverbs 25:21-22

"If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the LORD will reward you."

Temporary v.s. Eternal -2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Choosing Our Inheritance For Us -Psalms 47:1-4

"Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. He will subdue the peoples under us, And the nations under our feet. He will choose our inheritance for us, The excellence of Jacob whom He loves."

Prospered -Proverbs 28:25

"He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the LORD will be prospered."

God is Good -Psalms 73:1

"Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart."

Rich Fulfillment -Psalms 66:10-12

It's Number 200! My 200th post on my blog people! :)
(though, if you want to get technical, it's my 199th promise posted...I had an introduction post that wasn't a promise...)

"For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment."

Trials sure do seem hard when we are going through them (mainly because they really are hard!), but we have something to look forward to at the end...rich fulfillment!

There is a Hereafter -Proverbs 23:17-18

Our family read this in devotions this morning, and I was really encouraged by it...so I thought I'd share!

"Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; For surely there is a hereafter, And your hope will not be cut off."

A Generous Eye -Proverbs 22:9

"He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor."

Reserved in Heaven for You -1 Peter 1:3-5

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

This is a powerful passage.

That God through His mercy has given us new life, a new hope through Christ's Resurrection.


What is this hope?

An inheritance that will never get old or get corrupted, waiting for us in heaven.