Vows The title is a bit of a misnomer but there is a purpose behind it so please bear with me. I could address vows, to include the significance of Adam and Eve’s nudity (beyond what most would call the obvious) before making a vow. However, it’s best to start small with the more mundane that we deal with every day. After all, ‘Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much’ Luke 16:10 (NIV). This is about doing our best to simply keep our word because “Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do…” Deuteronomy 23:23 (NIV). I know sometimes we get busy or we may forget what we said but it is important to fulfill our promises to the best of our ability. If we make it a habit to say things that we have no intention of doing then keep this in mind, “The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy” Proverbs 12:22 (NIV). Keeping our word is even more important to those we are close to, particularly in a romantic relationship. The ones we are closest to are those who are capable of hurting us the most and vice versa. Sometimes we experience incredible pain because of a simple thing as a beloved not keeping their word. Our intuition, or an unfortunate history of empty promises, may tell us when someone is about to let us down. Mark chapter 14 has a classic example of when someone who is well intended doesn’t keep their word, and the person they are about to break a promise to already knows. When Jesus predicted His own death, He told His disciples that they would scatter like sheep without a shepherd. Then the following transpired: “Peter declared, ‘Even if all fall away, I will not.’ ‘Truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.’ But Peter insisted emphatically, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all the others said the same” Mark 14:29-31. Shortly after Jesus was arrested the prophesy was fulfilled when “…all the disciples deserted Him and fled” Matthew 26:56 (NIV). The Apostle Peter went on to do incredible things after Jesus was crucified. I firmly believe that a part of the reasons why Peter rebounded was because of what happened when the other prophesy was fulfilled. “Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the Word Jesus had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows twice you will disown Me three times.’ And he broke down and wept” Mark 14:72. A little remorse goes a very long way. And even though there’s a BIG difference between making empty promises and meaning what you say, they both erode trust. Fortunately, if a person’s heart is in the right place and they are willing to make amends…
Posted on: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 01:24:00 +0000
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