The Promises of God

    “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2 Cor. 1:20). All the promises of God are in him because only he was with the Father when the promises were made. They are all in him because they were given to him to fulfill. They are all in him because on the cross he fully paid all that was required for them to be ours. They are all in him because only he is sufficient and great enough to contain them. And all these promises are ours in him!

    Let us conduct ourselves before our families, fellow-workers, neighbors, and friends in an honest, righteous, and loving manner, so that even though they do not believe our gospel and speak of us as radicals (or whatever), yet when real trial and examination is put upon us, when God visits us and them with affliction and trouble, or when God prospers us and allows us to be stewards of many possessions, they must admit that we are different! That we have a grace, peace, and generosity which they do not have! Sometimes God visits us in prosperity, sometimes in disappointment, sometimes in joy, sometimes in sorrow. How we conduct ourselves under these different tests will determine whether those who observe us glorify God or doubt the sincerity of our profession and the power of our gospel.

    By doing good works, by living honest lives, by a kind and humble spirit before God and men, we will take away from the enemies of the gospel of grace one of their chief weapons; A critical tongue! Not that we walk in truth and love for that reason at all; but your labor of love, works of faith, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus will silence the ignorant charges and ill-informed criticisms of foolish people!