Borrowed Promise

Written by Bob Buse

October 4, 2022

This world map hangs on the wall in my home office with pins stuck in every nation we have visited over 40 years. It is a constant reminder of the faithfulness of God and an inspiration that keeps us moving forward to the uttermost part of the earth.

When Gail and I were sent on our first mission in 1980, we went with a passion to bless all nations. You remember when God spoke to Abrm in Genesis 12 of how He would bless him and make him a blessing? We took a hold of God’s Promise to “bless all the families of the earth” as our own. You might say we borrowed it. And we have been living it out ever since. Since we are blessed with the blessing of Abrm as his faith seed (Gal.3:29), than why not claim the Promise of becoming a blessing to all nations as God spoke?

The idea of identifying with a promise made to another is not unusual or unscriptural. The renowned apostle Paul was sent on his first missionary journey in Acts 13. When his message was not received by Hebrews in Antioch of Pisidia he boldly declared, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles, that You may bring salvation to the end of the earth.’”

Paul is quoting scripture from Isaiah 49:6 which is a prophetic utterance concerning a.) the Messiah and b.) the Hebrews. The apostle took this promise and owned it as a personal commission from the Lord – “the Lord commanded US saying.” This is another promise I have borrowed for myself. I believe Jesus has sent us to be a light to the gentiles and bring salvation to the end of the earth. The map on my office wall is proof God keeps His promise.

I have heard much good teaching on the blessing of Abraham: how to walk in the blessing in our lives. This is certainly true and God’s desire for each of His children. But there are not many of His children who claim the second part of God’s promise – to be a blessing to all the families of the earth. Why? I think many are simply self-centered and near-sighted, content with blessing on their own life and family. It may also be that people cannot conceive how God can use them to bless so many people scattered across the globe. How is that possible?

For starters, we should appreciate the power and scope of prevailing prayer. I love this quote by David Bryant, “Prayer is the one world sized mission available to all Christians. Through it we can love any of the world’s unreached peoples, even at the ‘ends of the earth.’” We can impact people anywhere, at any time, through prayer. Prayer in partnership with the Holy Spirit has no limits.

Another way the Promise can be lived out in your life is to send and care for those who go to far away places. Through the amazing power of partnership, we all share the blessing and rewards of bringing the Gospel light to the darkest places.

Finally, we are all sent ones just as Abrm. God told him to get up and go, so, he got up and went. He was a sent one and the promised blessing followed his obedience. We are all sent ones. When we live like sent ones in God’s master plan, we are blessing all the families of the earth.

I will make you a great nation, 

I will bless you, and make your name great;

So you shall be a blessing;

I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse.

And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.

God’s Promise to Abrm is a perpetual Promise. This Promise serves His ultimate purpose – that all the earth may know and glorify Him. The Promise is ours to possess if we choose. Choose to be a blessing to all the families of the earth.

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