After God had given Moses the 10 Commandments and various other commands, Exodus 24 records the response of the people: “All the people answered with one voice and said, ‘All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do!” (:3) “Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, ‘All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!’” (:7) After they heard the Law, all the people of Israel promised to keep it. The problem was, they WEREN’T obedient. They promised they would be, but when it came right down to it, they in fact did NOT obey.

This is the problem with “Promise Keeper”-type commitments. These sound like really “spiritual” things to do: promise to be good husbands and fathers, etc. But the drawback is, it is based on our obedience to God, but we are fickle, sinful, unfaithful and inconsistent. Israel, despite all their “promise keeping”, did NOT keep the Law. And when it comes down to daily practice, neither do we.

This is why we should be very reliant upon, and thankful for, God’s grace. We are not saved by promising to do better, or by our ability to be faithful “promise keepers” to God’s commands, but by calling upon God for His mercy and grace in Jesus Christ. That same formula which works for salvation can also be applied to our sanctification. Don’t just promise to do better. In your own strength, you most likely will not. Instead, admit your inability to do better, and ask God to do in you what you cannot possibly do for yourself. He will help you if call upon Him, for it is GOD who the One Faithful Promise Keeper!