1) a declaration or assurance that one will do something or that a particular thing will happen.
2) the quality of potential excellence.
Promise (verb) -
1) assure someone that one will definitely do something or that something will happen.
1) give good grounds for expecting (a particular occurrence).
This word, promise, might be one of the pillars of Biblical vocabulary that we don't talk enough about ? Or perhaps we do. God made a promise to Abraham, that turned out well. The Psalms speak over and over of promise. The writer or writers always come back to this promise, sometimes as a plea or demand.
May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise. Psalm 119.170
I cried out to God for help... when I was in distress I called out to the Lord... I thought about my former days... My spirit asked, "Has His unfailing love vanished? Has His promise failed for all time?" Psalm 77
Peter said "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call." Acts 2.38-39
Then of course there are times that the word promise isn't used but the promise is implied.
I (Jesus) will be with you always even unto the end of the world. Matthew 28.20
I could continue on and on but there we will stop. This word promise is a heavy one. All of us, at one point in time have been promised something only to be let down. I think of the tv series A Year In Provence- where the couple who have just bought the house in Provence are promised by workmen that they will come, only to be disappointed day after day until finally they all show up.
The workers didn't go back on their promise, it just took them a while to get around to it.
I write on the topic because the word promise has been rolling around my head for a while. We truly do believe that the promise of salvation is for all people, which is one of the many reasons why we are here in France- with a proclamation that Christ is for all people, we can have peace with God, peace with ourselves, through His presence, sacrifice and power.
This weekend is a big weekend for the fledgling group in Fougères. We are going to put four couples together- our two "pastoral" couples and two local couples and share a meal. We aren't sure if this group of people will somehow become a founding group for a "church" in Fougères, but they are willing at least to hear about it and take part. This is, as I would put it, the Theology of the Table. We've been meeting with both of these couples separately for the last few months and want to see how it works to put them together-this is no small ask.
We'll take a picture, to show people in 12 years what humble and faithful beginnings can become.... if we hold on to the promise and develop a clear and consistent vision.
Would you pray for us as we meet ? Including kids we'll be 11 or 12 people.
Pray for F&V who open their house.
Pray for R&M who come with two tiny children.
Pray for Elise & Michaël who lead the project and explain vision.
Pray for the 3 or 4 kids present, that we can take them seriously and see that this is for them as it is for us.
Pray for us as we cook food for the meal, and work as a bridge between people.
Thanks again for your support of the ongoing work in Fougères as we try to launch a vision for multiple churches covering our area.
-Greg