Thought for June 19

 History:

  • 1865: Juneteenth--slaves are freed in Texas
  • 1910: First Fathers' Day--Spokane
  • 1912: Tennessee State University opens
  • 1926: DeFord Bailey is the first African American to perform at the Grand Ole Opry
  • 1961: Supreme Court strikes down Maryland constitutional provision requiring office holders to believe in God
  • 1978: First appearance of Garfield
  • 1987: Supreme Court rules that schools teaching evolution do not have to teach creationism
  • 2018: GE is dropped from the Dow Jones Industrial Average--last of the original stocks
  • Born: Blaise Pascal, Charles H Spurgeon, Wallis Simpson, Moe Howard, Guy Lombardo, Lou Gehrig, Salman Rushdie, Phylicia Rashad, Tazmanian Devil [1st appearance], Paula Abdul, Zoe Saldana, 
  • Died: Nathaniel Greene, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, William Golding, James Galdolfini
Thought:
Reading some encouraging words in 2 Corinthians 1:20-22 this morning. Take a look at verse 20. 
  • As many as may be the promises of God. Ponder that phrase. How many promises of God can you recall? What are those promises of God that you live on, rely on, depend on, endure on? What are those promises of God that you rejoice in, set your hope upon? On my desk is a little book titled, "God's Promises for Your Every Need." I have referred to it at various times over the last 25 years. Sometimes I need to stop and just think about the promises God has made to me, to you, to the church, to the world. Stop for a moment this morning and think about some of those promises that have sustained you and powered you. 
  • In Jesus all those promises are yes. Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promises and He continues to fulfill those promises every day. Ultimately, Christ will fulfill all of God's promises when He returns and claims His own for eternity. This reminds me that any time I begin to doubt one of God's promises, anytime God's promises seem to be impossible or out of reach. Anytime God's promises seem to have failed, I must look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. When on the cross, He said "it is finished" He also meant that the guarantee for all God's promises had been issued. God promises peace--Jesus is our peace. God promises hope---Jesus is our hope. God promises redemption and deliverance---Jesus is the Redeemer and Deliverer. In Christ, all of God's promises are yes.
  • We are part of the great amen to all God's promises. When we live in faith, we are saying amen to the yes of Jesus and the promises of God. We shout we agree, we believe, we accept Your promises in and through Jesus--that is our amen. Notice in verses 21-22, Paul reminds us that God establishes us in Christ, He anoints us through Christ, and He seals us with the Holy Spirit. We hold the promise of His "yes" in the person of the Holy Spirit as a downpayment, a guarantee, an assurance that the promise is being fulfilled and will be fulfilled. 
Today, shout amen to all God's promises--in Christ we believe them, we trust them and we live in reliance upon them. 

Blessings
Larry

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