Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from October 31-November 6 are provided by Pastor Charles Choe of Tapestry Church, Los Angeles. Charles, a graduate of UC Riverside and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.), is married to Grace, and they have three children: Chloe, Noah, and Camden.
Devotional Thought for Today
Hebrews 6:13-20
For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
This Tuesday, we will head to the polls and elect a new president to the White House. With any presidential election, there is great hope for the nation to grow and prosper. But there’s also a great deal of skepticism because of the way politicians have failed to come through on the promises made on the campaign trail. We can sometimes become jaded and begin to think they will say just about anything to get our votes.
It’s not just our politicians, but it’s also the media, the advertising companies, and even our own friends and family who break promises. It’s so pervasive that we are tempted to think this is just the reality of life. And this mindset begins to affect our relationship with God and the way we think about the promises He has made. But there is a distinction between the promises of man and the promises of God: While man’s promises have many varied reasons for not coming to pass, God’s promises are as certain as the morning sun, as He has decreed it to be fulfilled tomorrow. He will carry His Word to fulfillment by the strength of His character and power of His love.
The author of Hebrews ends chapter 6 by calling us to hold fast to the promises of God because they are true. He reminds us of God’s promise to Abraham, that he would become the father of many nations. Though at times this appeared to be impossible, Abraham held on to God’s promise, and soon he was rewarded with a sound of an infant crying in his own home. This child would be part of the way God kept His promise to make Abraham a father of many nations.
Just as Abraham held fast to the promises of God, we too must hold fast. As we do, we will discover that the promises of God begin to change us and give us new motivation for living. We will no longer have such strong ties to the things of this world, for God’s promises are better than anything the world has to offer. We become strangers and aliens, as Peter says (1 Peter 2:11), and our lives will be filled all the more with contentment. Meanwhile, we become attractive to the watching world. Let us hold fast to the promises of God, which culminates in His Son Jesus Christ. Let us trust in the work of the Lord on the cross to save us and sustain us, until our faith become sight!
Prayer: Lord, regardless of who wins the election, help me to live out my faith boldly today. May I never be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation. And may You guide the next president to lead our country, according to your righteousness and compassion. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Mark 1606