Unpopular Promises

There are hundreds or even thousands of promises in the Bible, depending on who is counting. It also depends on what is counted as a promise. Editor T. Don Johnson mentioned three unpopular promises that you don’t hear in the teachings of the name-it-and-claim-it preachers. Jesus promised in John 16:33, "In the world ye shall have tribulation." Then there is the promise in 2 Timothy 3:12, "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." And James, among others, points out the value in trials, "The trying of your faith worketh patience" (James 1:3). (T. Don Johnson, "Unpopular Promises" in Moments for You, Vol. 52, No. 2 [2nd Quarter 2008], 12-13.)