Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Standing Promises

Mt. 4:5-7 – ‘…If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written…’

Children are quick learner in claiming promises to their parents. You’ll hear them often than not say to their parents, ‘Daddy you said that…then why can’t I …? Mommy you said last night that… then why we’re not going…?’ They assumed that promises are unconditional promises that will happen despite time and conditions. Might wonder from where they learned it, but here the devil is using that same tactics against Jesus, as the children to their parents.

What is so dangerous about this 2nd temptation is the presumption that God will somehow act out on an immediate claim on his written or spoken promises detached from His timing and condition. We may not realize it but we tested God, as Jesus said of the devil, when we say, ‘Let’s have faith that God will…’ Aren’t we presuming on God’s will that somehow when we have faith then it is going to be God’s will? Or are we testing God on His timing, love, plan, and purpose?

God’s love and kindness are beyond any rational mind can comprehend. The fulfillment of His promises – timing, condition, and manifestation – is simply beyond our apprehension. God cares regardless how we feel, God loves us regardless the dark valley that we’re going through. Presuming on his timing and forms of fulfillment on his promises is a deliberate act of testing on His love, goodness, and kindness in our lives. His promises stand on himself, not on others.