A few years ago my daughter bought me this amazing mug to drink coffee out of. I looked at her and told her that I promised her I would never drink coffee out of any other mug but this one when I was home.
In essence… I took a vow… an euchē
In the Old Testament we know that if you took a vow you could not break it…
“If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.” Numbers 30:2
But what about in the New Testament when we are no longer under the Law but under Grace?...
“And Paul [after this] tarried [there] yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn [his] head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.” Acts 18:18
Ok. So Paul had taken a vow. Anyone else…
“And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up” James 5:15
You see this same word that is translated “vow” is also translated “prayer.”
Euchē. This type of vow was one that must be held. Were you to break it the punishment would be death.
Why? Because when a believer makes a promise it is to Jesus. Regardless of the recipient… the vow was to the Lord.
In James 5:15 we see that Jesus took a vow… a solemn promise to heal… a promise He sealed with His own blood.
So I guess even under Grace we should follow our Savior’s example and remember that when we say we are going to do something… we should do it.
That mug is really great for coffee… still.
SDG
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