The Promises of Jesus Part II
in 2021
I saw an old friend recently. As we chatted, the conversation turned to reading. I’ve always been an avid reader and I love discussing books. They mentioned that they go in phases, sometimes reading a lot and sometimes reading very little. Then they turned to me and asked what I had been reading lately. I stopped. As usual, I’m about a quarter-of-the-way into several books right now including, “How to Raise an Adult,” and “Your Bipolar Teen.” I finished “Dune” after watching the movie (hated the book ending), and “I Hear You,” when it was made clear to me that I wasn’t a great listener. I read a few good memoirs this year too, but mostly, I’ve been reading and studying the Bible.
Reading 4 chapters of the Old Testament every day, it took me until August 17th to get through the entire book. That’s a big book. And here’s the thing: I LOVED IT. I know. Look, I know. It’s a book that’s widely debated, hated, and used as ammunition in a lot of ways, but I found it fascinating. The stories, woah. The people, the places. Amazing.
What struck me the very most about the Old Testament is how long people waited for a Savior to come. The prophets testified that He would come. They worked miracles in His name. He did appear, He spoke to people in their hearts, He led the Israelites in the wilderness, He was there, but the people thought of Him as someone YET TO COME. A future Savior belonging to someone else far away. They waited and waited for his arrival. Now today, most people view Him as someone in the PAST. An ancient Savior, no longer relevant, belonging to a time long ago.
As I read the scriptures this year, I highlighted each promise I felt was being made by the Savior. I have 29 categories covering anything from guidance to friendship. But studying His promises had led to me a discovery. He promises us forgiveness the very most, but the second most common promise of the Savior in the scriptures is COMPANIONSHIP. To be with us here and now, not in some distant future after death and not long ago in the past. Genesis 28:15 “behold, I am with thee,” Joshua 1:9 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest,” Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” And of course, there’s my favorite scripture in Isaiah 41:13 which says, “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee: Fear not; I will help thee,” which promises not only companionship but comfort and support too. Now. In my life here.
“This isn’t what I expected. I expected to struggle my whole life to earn a distant future with Christ. I expected to patiently curate my life for decades as some kind of winning proof that- possibly, eventually- I might deserve to live in His presence. Instead, I found Christ impatient to save me. I found Christ already wanting to share my mortal life. I found Christ wanting to live in me. I’d been living as if the day of miracles had not yet come, as if revelations had ceased, as if God were dead or asleep, as if Christ were fine china locked away for a special occasion at the end of time. But this wasn’t the case.”
-Adam Miller, “An Early Resurrection, Life in Christ before You Die”
Studying the promises of Christ and then trusting in them are two different things. Living in those promises and deciding, choosing, to live a life WITH Christ in the here and now has changed everything for me. He has become the brother you read about in the scriptures that lifts, heals, strengthens, comforts, encourages, brings peace, eases burdens, understands hardships, binds up wounds, wipes tears, and comes to you when your heart is breaking. The one who makes you feel whole, is your light in life’s wilderness, is the one who revives, and who goes before you. Your rock, your high tower, your fortress, and your refuge.
His assurances can be depended upon. I have come to know what it means to give something over to the Lord and accept his healing in return. I have learned, through his help, to love unconditionally. To see others like He does (I’m far from perfect at this, however). I have learned this year, that Jesus delivers on his promises. They’re not just words on a page, or sentences in a larger story, they are real.
This year, as I read all of the scriptures again, I am underlining when Christ speaks. I feel Him, now I am ready to HEAR Him. If you’re interested in joining me -
To read the Old Testament and New Testament in a year you’ll need to read: 3.2 chapters a day (I’d do 3 and finish early)
To read the New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price in addition to your regular Old Testament Come Follow Me Reading you’ll need to read: 1.7 chapters a day (2 and you’ll finish early)
The Come Follow Me schedule for 2022 isn’t set up to read every chapter in the Old Testament so I’m adding in missed chapters as they come up, which means there will be a lot of extra reading some months but IT IS WORTH IT.
Join me!
