God keeps His promises

Recently, we were watching an English movie called ‘Sense and Sensibility’ by Jane Austen. The film unfolds stories of different people falling in love and how some struggle because they’re not sure whether they’re loved in return. But the scene that captured me the most in the film was a story of a young gentleman who’d fallen in love with a lady and made her a proposal of marriage in secret, (as he knew that marriage to her would be disapproved of by his mother and would lead to disinheritance).

The engagement had lasted for four years, and during those four years his feelings had changed and grown cold towards her. He’d now fallen in love with someone else, who loved him in return. So, he’d ended up being engaged to someone he didn’t love anymore, and in love with someone he couldn’t marry! Rather than break his promise he decided he was duty-bound to honour his engagement.

I guess, in our time, young people might not be so faithful to their word as in 1811 when this story was written. But, at that time, people, whether young and old, knew about the power of giving their word. A promise, once made, couldn’t be broken, and if it was, one’s reputation was damaged forever. To some extent, feelings weren’t so important as reputation.

This whole scenario made me think about our Lord. He doesn’t act out of emotions like us. Our emotions change from time to time. Acting out of emotions would mean He loved and accepted us so long as we behaved well, but, if we disobeyed, then His feelings would grow cold and He’d change His mind about us. But, what He’s done for us through His Son Jesus Christ speaks of His purpose and great desire to save us and to bring us to Himself.

The promises that the Lord’s given to us in the Bible aren’t words to be taken lightly. The Scripture says that He’s exalted His word and promises ‘above all His name’. Which means that the Lord wouldn’t break His word, spoken to us in the Bible, no matter what His feelings were.

This is the great assurance that we have in Him, that ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever’ (Hebrews 13:8). May I encourage you today to meditate upon the faithfulness of God, and His unchanging character and love for us. May your heart be filled with gratitude for His Son Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your steadfast love and faithfulness towards me. Thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ, who never changes. I’m grateful for Your presence in my life. Amen.