If you were to look inside of Webster's Dictionary, you would find that the word Prerequisite is listed before, the word Promise! I know what you are thinking! "of course it is, due to the spelling" ..right? Well, for the benefit of today's message, I choose to believe that God arranged them this way, for a reason! So, just go along with my theory, for just a moment! A prerequisite is something that is required, prior to obtaining something else. It's something that prepares you to receive something of a greater significance. And it is something that can cause a delay or failure if ignored!
Have you ever had to take a prerequisite before a class? What was the purpose of the prerequisite?....The purpose of it, was to prepare you for something that was ahead! A class that would ultimately be a necessary tool for your receiving your desired degree! ....If you have ever had to complete payment on something prior to receiving it, it was so that you could "lock in" your expectation of receiving whatever you wanted to call your own! Or how about that bank account of yours? What would be the prerequisite for you being able to withdraw money? Well, the prerequisite would have been that you, first! put money in! right? Now, for the flip side! If I never take that prerequisite in school, I cannot expect to advance to gaining the knowledge needed for me to secure that degree....And if, I never send that payment in, I can forget claiming that item as my own...And as for my bank account? Well, no money in!...means, no money out!
Did you know that some of God's greatest blessings and promises come with a prerequisite? The promises of God are sure, and we can count on them, if He has declared them! Some of God's blessings and promises are "free", meaning, there is nothing that you or I are required to do to obtain them. An example is, God's mercy...or his grace! There is nothing that you or I can do that would keep God from exercising these acts of love....nothing! Nor is there anything that you or I could do that would qualify us for these benefits! They come along with WHO HE IS! ......Now! what about the blessings and promises of God that require something of us? Meaning that, there is something that He wants from us, prior to his releasing! A prerequisite that has been established by God! Take a moment and think of a scripture or passage, where God has added a prerequisite to his blessings or promises! I can think of a couple, right off; and one of them pertains to us receiving God's forgiveness for our transgressions! What is the prerequisite for obtaining this act of love from God? ......if you're thinking, "forgiving others", you are right! God has made it clear that unless we forgive others, we can not expect our sins to be forgiven! (A requirement, that should not be overlooked!)....And what about Philippians 4? where we are given the prerequisite for having peace in our lives! How do we obtain peace? By not being anxious AND surrounding our request with thanksgivings, when making them know to God! Prerequisite comes before Promise! Or Deuteronomy 28, where God lists one specific requirement for obtaining an entire wealth of blessings! That requirement? Obedience!We can go on and on with the many things that God has attached prerequisites to, in order for us to experience his POWER! Our God wants to bless us according to his will for our lives, however, we tend to merely "glance" over the prerequisite, while anxiously "seeking" the promise! This is where we "miss" God! Because as you will find out; it is in the prerequisite, where we find our stability; it is in the prerequisite where we gain our required knowledge on how to gain access to His promises, where we can both walk in and live out His promises, so that unbelievers will want to know how they too, can share in his promises!
Prerequisites aren't created to "delay" your promises; they are created to "ensure" your promises! So, whether you ask God or Webster's Dictionary about prerequisites, one thing will always hold true! Prerequisite will always come before Promise!!
A Prayer for today:
Dear Lord, thank you for reminding us that, there are promises that you have made, that require nothing of us, but are of your grace and mercy; however, let us be mindful of the fact that there are times when you require a prerequisite prior to our receiving your blessings. Lord, we acknowledge and understand that prerequisites are for our own growth, and will lead us to deeper relationship with you, and we thank you for your wisdom and for your everlasting love, as you have shared with us, the key to obtaining your promises!
