Keeping Your Word

Categories: Devotional,Leviticus,Psalms,Malachi,John

How are you doing with keeping your word? God says in Leviticus, “‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD'” (Lev. 19:12).

Sometimes the problem of false promises is not the oath itself, but of dragging God into it. Making oaths with God’s name in it, the name that Jesus Christ wears, we run God’s name through the mud.

Just like when we stub our toe, does anyone ever shout, “Oh, Satan?” G.K. Chesterton said: “It’s hard to swear without bringing God into it.”

We lie, and we shouldn’t: The psalmist says, “Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth” (Psa. 31:5).

When we lie, we resemble the Father of Lies. Jesus says there is no truth in him (John 8:44). When he lies, he speaks his native language. That is what is so lethal when we don’t speak the truth, we sound like Satan.

We need to take this to heart, and take to heart all our vows, including our marriage vows.

In the Old Testament book of Malachi we learn that this was one of the problems in Zechariah’s day, breaking marriage vows. Husbands were forgetting their responsibility to be faithful. And So the Lord stopped listening to their prayers. That is how he got their attention. “You ask, ‘Why?’ It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant” (Mal. 2:14).

People think, marriage vows, no big deal. Just a few words. That’s all.

But listen to the Word of God. It says, those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts (Psa. 15:4).

It feels so good to say you’ll do something, and then, do it.

Keep your word, even in your smallest promises. God does.

Now, that is something to Celebrate!

Author: Toby Larson

Toby Larson leads Celebration International. He is a husband and father of 5. Whether he's teaching, hitting tennis balls, sailing a Hobie, serving in Asia, skiing on water or snow, Toby is passionate about the love of God and the love of life. Read more ...