No Watered Down Promises

Starbucks is being sued because they are underfilling their cups.  I know it is shocking to many but an unscientific study indicates they advertise their Venti cold drink contains 24 ounces and it only has 14 ounces.   The rest is ice.  When will the mayhem stop?
 
Lest you be tempted to think no one keeps their promises let me assure you there is no mayhem in heaven.  When God promises something He means it!  It is never watered down with ice or anything.  We are promised eternal life.   That is not a million years.  That is not 100 million years.  That is forever.  Obviously there has to be intervention of some sort.  The way we are now I am not sure I want to live to be a hundred.  I know that for sure when I get out of my easy chair.  If it feels like this now what will it feel like at hundred.  I would need an entire bottle of Ibuprofen just to stand up.
 
We are talking about eternity where we continue to develop.  Next earth year we will be better than last earth year. (I’m not sure how we will count years.)  Last week some middle aged man prayed with my wife and asked God to bless her now that she is in her sunset years.  Oh dear.  He is very fortunate he got to say amen.
 
Since God never waters down a promise try this one.  “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy. . .” Jude 24   If you have a nagging guilt about something in your past, ask for forgiveness and forget it.  He is able.

I Have a Verse for You

If you are looking for a great verse to start off your week, look no further.  I have a verse for you.  It is Ephesians 1:18-19.  Paul is praying for us and he said,  “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
 
If you ever wonder how you are going to make ends meet, rejoice.  You have an extravagantly rich Father who has promised that you will participate fully in the family will.  The great part is you get your inheritance without Him having to die.  He can enjoy watching you prosper as He lavishes every blessing upon you.  Notice also in Ephesians 1, “In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.”
 
Don’t skip over the words “lavish”, “pleasure” and “adoption to sonship.”  Also note “freely given.”  It is no wonder the first four books of the New Testament are called Gospels.  Good News really isn’t strong enough.  We need more powerful words to describe what is in store for us.  Oh, there’s another good word Paul mentions.  We receive “great power.”   Say yes to Jesus.  Accept the gift and welcome to the family.  There is plenty for all.   There are no losers.  Everyone is a winner!