God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said, ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ So it is also stated elsewhere: ‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’ (Acts 13:34-37)
Yesterday we read: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. God gave many promises in the Bible, and we sometimes think those promises aren’t for us. But this passage tells us, through raising up Jesus, God’s promises to our ancestors will also be fulfilled for us. Since we have been adopted into the family of Abraham, the promises and blessings of Abraham and David are for us if we seek them.
2 Samuel 7 states the promises God made to David. 1) Whatever is in your mind to do for God, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you. 2) I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest people on earth. 3) I will provide a place of rest where wicked people and enemies aren’t allowed. 4) I will raise up your own flesh and blood. He (Jesus) will build a temple for my Name, and I will establish his royal throne forever.
Through Adam and Noah, we are all related by flesh and blood and created in God’s image. Each of us has a purpose that we can achieve because the Lord is with us. If we follow His will, He will make our names great. God doesn’t want us to be stressed, so He provides a refuge where wicked people and the enemy aren’t allowed. Since Jesus was dead for more than five minutes, the time when brain cells start to die, God kept Him from decay and raised Him up.
Sin and worry (also sin) damage our immune system and cause our bodies to decay. Jesus didn’t sin, so His earthly body was able to serve as his heavenly body. Since all other humans abuse our bodies, we are promised new ones in heaven. (See 2 Corinthians 5)
It’s encouraging to know if we work for God, He’ll make our names great and that when we die, we’ll spend eternity with our loved ones in His kingdom. I’m happy you’re studying the Bible with me, so we don’t miss any of God’s promises and blessings.
Father God, I praise You for Your promises and blessings, and I claim all of them for myself. I’m anxious today. Bring me to Your place of refuge where enemies aren’t allowed. Hold me in Your arms and fulfill Your promise of rescuing my family from the hand of our enemies and enable us to serve you without fear in holiness and righteousness before You all our days. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray, amen.
Yes, God’s promises are for everyone who believes. How fortunate are all of us who believe. How fortunate we are that God has made things so clear in the Bible. Even though some things are so clear, there are many mysteries that we long to have the answers to, but likely will never have the answers while we are on Earth. God provides us with a place of refuge when we are upset, angry, stressed, anxious. I believe it is a place that keeps us safe and allows us to work out our problems and frustrations. We thought about Heaven yesterday and today. We have talked before about people we hope to never see again. Most likely these people will be in Heaven, but not the same version of themselves that we knew while on Earth. I am sure there are people who would prefer to never see me again. I hope to be in Heaven. God will take away all the bad stuff and Heaven will be nothing but love.
I think you meant to say heaven gives us hope instead of I hope to be in heaven. God promises us we will go to heaven if we believe in Jesus and you do. I think it is wonderful that people who hurt us will finally say, “I’m sorry and we will greet each other with open arms.” I’m sure God will show me there’s people I have hurt unknowingly and I, too, will say, “I’m sorry.” I love you, Sis, and I’m praying for you.