For all the promises of God find their Yes in [Christ]. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
--2 Corinthians 1:20
There was once a man named George Matheson, who lived in Scotland in the 19th century. He was a gifted man, but he had an eye disease that left him blind. Because of this disease his fiancée broke off their engagement and his life was thrown into disarray.
On the day of his sister’s wedding, he felt an urge from within to write a verse. One refrain he wrote that day was, “I trace the rainbow thru the rain, and feel the promise is not vain.”
But history tells us that Matheson’s original wording was, “I climb the rainbow thru the rain.” What a wonderful picture for us as Christians! When we climb the rainbow that God gives us and take hold of His promise, we can make it through the rain.
In the course of our lives, we struggle with many things and we hope for many things. But whether in rain or sunshine, God’s promise is right there for us. We just have to climb up and seize it.
The problem is not that God has forgotten His promise to us; it’s that we have forgotten our promises to Him. When we commit our lives to Him, we promise to obey and seek Him, but often we forget the significance of this promise. It’s time to remember the one who remembers you!
Of course, the ultimate sign of God’s promise is not a rainbow like the one He gave to Noah. It’s the cross that Christ died upon. Because of Christ, all of God’s promises are ours. There is no storm you cannot survive if you will cling to Him and His Word.
Remember your promises to the One who remembers you
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
Luke 16:29–31
Given the rapidly changing society in which we live, there are many people suggesting new ways to reach people for the Lord. And while not everything that is new is wrong—I’m thankful for the enlarged opportunities to reach people with the gospel through new tools—there is a danger that we will become so enamored with techniques and programs that we forget the true source of the power of our message. What we most need in our day is not a new method of reaching people, but faithfulness to the method God has given us to reach the world—the proclamation of the Word of God.
“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21). It is not through our clever techniques or manipulation that people are reached. It is not through amazing demonstrations of power that conviction comes. Even miracles would not be enough to persuade those who will not believe what the Bible says is true.
The responsibility for results does not rest on us. It is not our job to bring conviction of sin. That is the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
Today’s Growth Principle:
We can trust the Word of God to have its effect on others if we are faithful to proclaim it.
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