Promises, Promises...

 I'm struggling with something that bore down on me this morning. It's something that I may even be guilty of and I sincerely hope not... 

This morning I ran across a post on social media from a Christian site that merely quoted Isaiah 58:8 and nothing else: “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind." (NLT) (They quoted it from KJ)

I know that their intentions are good and I mean no offense, but God requires something prior to receiving the fruit of the promise. The word "Then" alludes to it. The prior verses are worth searching out in order to avoid setting up false expectation and disillusionment in people looking to God for hope and the much needed fulfillment of the promise. See what I mean...

“No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people.Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help." Isaiah 58:6-7 (NLT)(Who can say that God's heart is not kind and compassionate?)(The verses before these demonstrated more of what was on the Lord's mind)...

...“Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind." Isaiah 58:8 (NLT) (Emphasis mine)

For every promise God makes, there is a requirement that has to be met in order to obtain the fruit of that promise. Merely quoting the promise alone could easily set up false expectations and cause those less committed to study and understanding to walk away - leaving them distrusting what God's said from then on and potentially damaging God's hope of relationship with them. 

The practice of posting promises on social media that people want to hear without the accompanying requirement to obtain what's promised is unfortunately common. It gets attention and stirs the hope of people suffering and in need of relief, but it feels unjust when the post doesn't also include what's required to obtain that relief - unjust not only to the reader unaware, but also potentially to God's reputation in their mind going forward. 

It seems right to me that every promise that gets posted in that way should at least also include a challenge to read the requirement that must be met in order to receive it. And I would challenge every follower of Jesus to make sure that they do, then meet the requirement, and allow God's promises to bear fruit in their lives. How much unintended damage may we have done as Christ followers by not making equal reference to what God requires? Our God is not a liar, but the way that His word is represented could unintentionally give that impression to some less dedicated to study and understanding by the posting of a bare promise without context.

This may sound like a rant and I hope that it doesn't, but I find it grating me hard this morning and grieving my heart to think about how many are struggling - needing relief and how the Lord might be viewed because of how things are presented when the fruit of His promises aren't realized because the requirements weren't met. So many people desperately need what God promises. 

We need to pay attention. There are a number of things that can hinder us in our walk. For example: Husbands, even our prayers can be affected...

 "In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered." 1 Peter 3:7 (NLT)(Emphasis mine)

...So we need to be careful to pay attention to the details of what God's told us and to be reading and studying the bible in context. The Lord has offered relief and blessings many times, but I've personally not found these things offered as a promise without accompanying conditions that must be met. They're some of the keys to the fruitfulness of God in our lives and the lives of others. Without meeting them, we and others may be suffering unnecessarily and limiting our relationship with the God who always keeps His promises.

"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."  Micah 6:8 (NLT)