"The Greatest Promise" (Part 1)

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty. As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness. At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:13-19 NLT).

What began as a typical Vacation Bible School project turned out to be a profound lesson in the faithfulness of God to keep His promises. When she was in the third grade, Maria attended VBS and there made her “promise box.” It was made from an empty kitchen match box and pieces of construction paper. Yet it was to have a profound effect in her life. She was instructed to write different verses containing a promise of God on small pieces of paper and roll it into a miniature scroll. Forty or fifty of them were placed on end in the box. It became her personal “promise box.” Of course it became a “collector’s item.” It was never really used as it sat on a shelf of her mementos. It did remind her of that summer when she became a Christian, though many years had passed since then. One day, feeling very discouraged and depressed, her mind wandered to that little box. She went to the shelf and took it down, praying, “Lord, things are very difficult for us now. I need a word of encouragement from you.” She took the box down from the shelf to get a better look inside and as she did, she tripped and fell over a turned corner of the rug. All the promises spilled out of the box. As she began to pick them up she realized the message. This time she prayed, “Lord, how foolish I have been to ask for one promise when there are so many in your Word.”

Isn’t that the way it is with the promises of God? They are to be used, not saved for a “rainy day”! There are over 3,000 promises in the Scripture. There is the promise of eternal life (John 3:16); that of God’s provision (Philippians 4:6-7); that of God’s victory (Romans 8:28); and, many more. However, the greatest promise I think is in our reading today. In the next few days we’ll look closely at it. For those of you who are preachers, here’s the alliteration and outline: it is personal, positive, and plentiful (see… I can still do it the “old fashioned way” )

Today, I want to urge you to take your “promise box” off the shelf and realize that God wants to grant you your heart’s desire. He wants to supply all your needs in His glorious riches in Christ Jesus! Let’s start claiming some of them!