SCRIPTURE: Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” Hebrews 13:5 AMP
THOUGHT: It’s always interesting to me when an Old Testament phrase is important enough that it gets repeated in the New Testament. This promise of God is originally stated in Deuteronomy 31:6 as part of Moses’ charge to Joshua. So maybe if you read it there, you could think to yourself, “sure God made an incredible promise to Joshua, but Joshua was a really important person – a leader of thousands, and I’m not that important.”
But wait a minute! When it’s repeated by the writer of Hebrews, it’s applied to ordinary people like us, who might be tempted to trust money more than God. I love the way the Amplified Version leans into this promise of God by amplifying it from the Greek into six amazing words of God to us. Stop for a moment and listen. Can you hear God making these commitments to you? Saying, “here are some reasons, (your name), that you might want to trust me more than money:”
1. I will never under any circumstances desert you.
2. I will never give you up nor leave you without support.
3. I will never in any degree leave you helpless.
4. I will not forsake you.
5. I will not let you down.
6. I will not relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!
What if you memorized that one single verse this week, or printed out the list and stuck it on your desk or the fridge? What if you sent it to a friend who’s been down and out, wondering if they really matter to anyone, let alone the God of the universe?
There might be moments ahead you (or they) will need to remember that God has made some outlandish promises to his children that he plans to keep.
PRAYER: Thank you, God, for outlandish promises. You have been faithful, and you will continue to be, not because I’m worthy of it, but because it’s your character.
Dear Reader,
I’m glad you’re along and I pray you will be blessed, challenged, and encouraged in your faith by something you read here.
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ABOUT ME:
Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
Check out Walking When You’d Rather Fly, and learn more about the book and Amy’s other ministries. You will also find her devotional work at Words of Hope.
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