Pastor Bill Hayden
As we experience life, there are certain events or relationships that lend themselves to people making promises to others. We seldom think about the cost of keeping those promises that we make to each other. Every promise made to someone is usually contingent upon what we believe will occur to allow us to fulfill that promise. Often, challenges that we didn’t anticipate seem to really examine where we stand on the promises we made.
A couple stand in front of their Celebrant to get married with relatives and close friends, promises are made and witnessed by many. Their hearts are open and willing with acceptance and eagerness to forbear… because of love. Those who know them believe that they have a good foundation to build a lasting relationship. The couple have the best of intensions to fulfill their commitments to each other, with love-filled eyes and deep desires. It never occurs to them that they would soon be tested by the promises made that day.
It’s hard to imagine a strong couple who pledged their love to remain together in the good times as well as the tough times would give up! During these days, a couple who face hard time in their relationship will usually look for the nearest exit! Where is the love that once covered each other’s brokenness in the beginning? They had promised to love and be devoted to one another for the rest of their lives.
When working in the corporate world, my company’s marketing department came up with a slick mission statement to garner more business. The mission statement, “We Never Make A Promise That We Can’t Keep.” This statement would put the company at risk. When the outside world learned of the slogan it created a monster for the company, customers and employees. The company learned a very valuable lesson about promises and commitments. The lesson was, they were not all knowing as God. There were unpredictable mishaps from manufacturing to distribution.
There is one person who we can depend upon to keep promises and commitments. Jesus Christ will never make a promise that He will not keep.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:9-11, NIV).
“Love has a lot to do with keeping your promises.”
Celebrate with us at the Villages Community Chapel in Cribari Auditorium, every Sunday at 10 a.m. to be encouraged over the Word of Life, enjoy a cup of coffee and cookies with friends. The chapel is a place for needs to be met, faith to be affirmed and new friends to embrace. You can view our worship services on YouTube at Villages Community Chapel San Jose, CA.