When we love the Lord and are determined to live a God-honoring life, there is no predicament we can get ourselves into that the Lord cannot get us through. If we mock God and turn to our own ways, the dynamic changes, and we suffer the consequences of sin.
The Lord is not a fair-weather friend who stays by our side until problems arise. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), and as Proverbs 18:24 declares, there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Indeed, Jesus is such a friend.
A healthy relationship benefits both parties; an equal give-and-take alliance usually develops. However, when we are in a relationship with the Lord, the benefits He brings far outweigh anything we can give Him. Friendship typically implies that a person will do certain things. As a friend, I will be honest, loyal, and respectful, value my friend’s heart, encourage my friend, be a helper, believe in the best in my friend, and so on.
Psalm 91:14-16 (NLT) tells of seven promises the Lord offers us. There are countless other perks and rewards for God’s children throughout the Bible, but ponder these seven benefits and be blessed by the Lord’s “I Will” list. The Lord says:
1. I will rescue those who love me. Another version says I will deliver him. The idea here is that because we love the Lord, He will save us in times of trouble, temptations, and evils, even though He may permit those things to happen.
2. I will protect those who trust in My name. His protection is such that the Lord will set us on high (vs.14 NKJV), i.e., put us out of the reach of all our enemies.
3. When they call on Me, I will answer. When we continue to pray, God’s blessings come our way. He will answer us and give us whatever is best for us.
4. I will be with them in trouble. Literally, I am with him. Imow 'aanokiy (Hebrew) means as soon as the trouble comes, I am there (Clarke’s Commentary). How’s that for a promise? The Lord promises to walk through troubling times with us--He does not leave us by ourselves.
5. I will honor them. He will honor us because we love, honor, and serve Him. Another word used is ennoble, which means He will elevate us, make us noble, and raise us to nobility. Adam Clarke’s Commentary notes that wa'kabdeehuw (Hebrew) means I will glorify him. I will load him with honor, that honor that comes from God. I will even show to men how highly I prize such.
6. I will satisfy them with a long life. Literally, with length of days, will I fill him up. He shall neither live a useless life nor die before his time. He shall live happy and die happy. (Clarke’s Commentary). A useful life vs. a useless life matters. He notices.
7. I will show him My salvation. The Lord’s salvation is much more than an entry ticket into heaven when we die. His salvation package includes forgiveness of sins, healing, peace, provision, deliverance, and protection. He wants to show us all those aspects of His wonderful free gift.
All He asks of us is that our “I Will” list be I will love you, Lord, and I will follow You. If you haven’t exchanged “I Will” lists with the Savior, do it now; if you have, why not reinforce your commitment today?
© 2024, Chris Custer Werre
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