Dear [[firstname|Friend]],

God's Integrity Is Behind His Word

We've all heard the preacher's slogan: "God said it, I believe it, that settles it!" Yet the middle phrase is redundant. "God said it, that settles it!" Whether you believe it or not makes no difference to the truth, just to you. The Christian's basic spiritual problem is the integrity of God's Word. Does God mean what He says?

One of our long-serving Prime Minister's was challenged as to why he had not delivered all he had promised in a previous election campaign. He answered that not all his promises were "core promises," which of course didn't help his case. Thankfully, all of God's promises to us are "core promises" that we can rely upon.

When God came to Jacob in a dream, He said to him, "For I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you" (Genesis 28:15). "I'll stick with you until I've done everything I promised you" (Message Bible). When Jacob woke up, he said, "Surely God is in this place, and I did not know it" (verse 16). Christian, God is always with you; there never is any separation between you and Him.

"I, God, have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back..." (Ezekiel 24:14). It only makes sense to take the words literally and stand on His promises.

"Be content with what you have, for He himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper. I will not fear what humans may do to me" (Hebrews 13:5-6). God said it, that settles it! Our reaction is to "boldly say" what God has said about us. That's integrity at work in the life of the believer. "He himself has said... so we may boldly say."

A great hymn, 251 years old!

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love and power.

Refrain:
I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in His arms;
In the arms of my dear Savior,
O there are ten thousand charms.

Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome,
God’s free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings you nigh.

Let not conscience make you linger,
Not of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him.
-- from the hymn by Joseph Hart (1759).

View a modern upbeat version here.