WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: How often have you said, ‘I’ll believe that when I see it’, after a promise is made by someone which you feel will not be delivered? People let us down. God, however, always delivers on his word (Psalm 18:30).

Good intentions
I am a consultant, and my work involves evaluating projects or programmes. In order to assess whether a programme has delivered its targets, I look for evidence in a number of areas: whether or not it met its promised outcomes, the numbers of people involved, their testimonies and evidence of change in the lives of those who have taken part.

When my personal observation and people’s testimonies agree that there have been positive outcomes, I can be sure that the programme has delivered what it promised. Many projects don’t succeed because they aimed too high or lost their way during the delivery process. Good intentions, when they do not match outcomes, still remain good intentions.

God always delivers
In today’s reading we see that God has promised great things for his people (v 50) and that he always delivers (vs 47,48). The evidence can been seen in historical events (v 43) and experienced in the lives of his people (vs 33–36). Even those not involved can testify to his mighty deeds (vs 44,45).

When God’s actions are evaluated, they clearly deliver what he promised as he alone is perfect (v 30). Evidence and testimony come together to show that for God’s people believing is seeing. The outcome is our unadulterated praise (v 49) for these blessings.

Respond: How often have we promised something which we have not delivered? Praise God that he forgives our fallenness and always delivers on his promises.

http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-05-20