Words of Grace

By Rev. Mahlon Nevel

The writer to the Hebrews told those who had received the Lord Jesus as their Messiah to hold on to their profession of faith. They did not have to waiver with doubt, “for he is faithful that promised” (Hebrews 10:23).

There are many promises that God made in the Bible, and he keeps every one of them. That is because it is “impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18).

This reminds me of the little chorus: Every promise in the book is mine, Every chapter, every verse, every line; all are blessings of His love divine, Every promise in the book is mine.

R. Kelso Carter wrote the words of the familiar hymn, Standing on the Promises. We stand on the promises of God “that cannot fail”. And when we stand on the promises, we “cannot fall”.

God has given us promises for the life that is now and for the life that is to come. (I Timothy 4:8)
The promise that he has promised us is eternal life. (I John 2:25)

When Frances Havergal, the English poet and hymn writer, was nearing death at the age of forty-two, she requested that the following verse be read to her:

“I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand and we’ll keep thee (Isaiah 42:6).
Upon hearing those words, a smile appeared on her face. She then exclaimed, “Called, held, kept! I can go to heaven on that promise!”