Raise!Näide

Voices raised.

As followers of Jesus, we often raise our voices in allegiance to him and the ways of the Christian faith. We speak ‘I will…’ statements of commitment and lordship. Those who have chosen to become soldiers in The Salvation Army confess, ‘I believe and will live by the truths of the word of God.’ This statement is followed by a series of ten ‘I will…’ promises. In the dedication of a child or in a marriage ceremony the words ‘I/we will’ are spoken. It is common as followers of Jesus to verbalise ‘I will…’ statements regarding our faith and its practices.

It was hours before Jesus was moving towards the agony of the cross. The disciple Peter raised his voice with bold ‘I will…’ statements to Jesus.

‘“Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will”’ (Matthew 26:33 NIV).

‘“Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same’ (Matthew 26:35 NIV).

Our voices raise personal and corporate ‘I will…’ statements alongside Peter and the other disciples. Peter’s ‘I will…’ was followed by denying relationship with Jesus three times.

King David had an ‘I will…’ that followed the selfish realisation that God had come second. He built himself a fine palace and then, in guilt, said, ‘I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the Lord…’ (Psalm 132:4-5 MEV).

Have you had, or are you living an experience of a failed ‘I will…’? Despite our failures we hear the uncompromised ‘I will…’ of Jesus raised to us. ‘Whoever comes to me I will never cast out’ (John 6:37 ESV).

We are invited to raise an ‘I will…’ confident in the One who helps us be faithful to the promises we make, and forgives and restores when we fail.