
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 4:19)
We live in a unique age – democracy is a fairly new concept, historically speaking. For most of history you had the ruler that God provided, and there was no say in it. The idea that there was something you could do to change your government was a thought that would never even enter your mind – it’s the way life was.
You learned how to accept, obey and submit. As Christians in those times, you knew that the job of the church was to change hearts, not governments.
That is a very foreign concept to us today. We live in a world where things need to be the way WE want it, otherwise it’s our RIGHT to object. Life has to meet our needs.
We have so many choices around us in all areas of our life. We’re constantly being told by the world around us that our wants and desires should be met and it’s someone’s fault if they aren’t. We’ve lost sight of how to accept and overcome.
All of this affects our view of God and how He asks us to trust Him completely as our Provider. When we have challenges we often run to God and ask him to take away our problems and let us return to comfortable lives. It’s not that we shouldn’t lift up our concerns and cares to Him, but we need to rest in the fact that He is the one who knows what is best for us.
I’m certainly not saying we should return to living the way life was in the past, and that the freedoms we have under democracy should be removed. We live in a wonderful age, but it’s easy to be taken in by the comforts of the world. But we need to be reminded that God never promised us a perfect life, only eternal life.
Those of us who call Jesus Lord of our lives need to be reminded of what God HAS promised to us in His Word.
Most importantly He has promised us victory over death.
He first resurrected Jesus by way of assuring our resurrection. Peter said: “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:32). Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (I Corinthians 15:3,4). And of course in John 3:16 we’re told how all this works for our salvation.
He has promised to supply every need we have.
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 4:19) Now notice, God has obligated Himself only to the extent of our needs, not our wants. It would not include the multiplicity of luxuries that we have come to think of as needs.
God has promised that all things work together
for good to those who love and serve Him faithfully. (Romans 8:28).
It may be difficult for us to see and understand how this is accomplished at times, but God has promised it, and He will deliver.
These are only a few of all the encouraging promises throughout His Word. What are your favorite promises? List them in the comments.
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(DISCLAIMER: I read several sources, commentaries, devotionals, etc., when I study the bible. Some of what I write is heavily inspired by what I read, and some sections may not be all my own words. I try to distill and paraphrase but there are way too many great writers who know the depths of God’s Word more than I ever will. I try to give credit where possible, and I don’t want anyone to think that everything I write comes straight from my brain – it’s all inspired by God and others He has chosen to write through. I encourage you to look to those who have also studied and written about Scripture, while at the same time remembering they are only men, and the ONLY true standard is the Word of God – everything written by me or any other human MUST be measured against that standard.)
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