November 11

Possess your possessions

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:4).
“So will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised” (Jer. 32:42).

The promises of God are not enclosures to be the private property of this saint or that, but they are an open common for all the dwellers in the parish of Holy Faith. No doubt there are persons who would, if they could, make a freehold of the stars, and a personal estate out of the sun and moon. The same greed might put a ring-fence around the promises, but this cannot be done. As well might misers hedge in the songbirds and claim the music of a lark and thrush as their own sole inheritance, as propose to keep promises all to themselves. No, not the best of the saints can, even if they wished to do so, put a single word of the God of grace under lock and key. The promise is not only “unto you, and to your children,” but also “to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” What a comfort is this! Let us take up our common rights, and possess by faith what the Lord has made ours by a covenant.


Lastly, talk about the promises. Tell the King’s household what the King has said. Never keep God’s lamp under bushels. Promises are proclamations; exhibit them on the wall; read them aloud at the market-cross. Oh, that our conversation were more often sweetened with the precious promises of God! After dinner we often sit for half-an-hour, and pull our ministers to pieces, or scandalize our neighbors. How often is this the Sunday’s amusement! It would be far better if we said, “Now, friend, quote a promise,” and the other replied, “And you mention a promise too.”
—C. H. Spurgeon.

Take to yourself the promises
Found in His Holy Word,
Bring to your mind His messages,
Have faith that you are heard
When in your need you pray to Him
To strengthen you just there,
Claim His most precious promises,
You’ll find God answers prayer.
—Clara Simpson.

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