God's Promises
Promises matter. Chances are good that you know something about promises, because you have made some in your life; we all have! So what about God? What promises has He made us that we celebrate at Christmas? Simply put, God promised to send a Savior, a Messiah! 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 (Matthew 1:22-23). Jesus came to fulfill a promise made long before His birth!
God promised to make His presence intimately known when Jesus Christ entered the world. Jesus made known to us God’s glory, His grace and His truth. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
Is there any doubt that Jesus is the promised Messiah? None. Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies from the Old Testament pointing to a Messiah, or in Greek, “Christ.” The chances of one man fulfilling all those prophecies is a number we can’t even imagine!
So if Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Christ, then what does that mean for you and me?
Jesus saves me from my sin! 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21. Jesus’ name literally means “salvation.” 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11. Have you invited Jesus to be your Savior and Lord? (1 Peter 1:19-20; Romans 10:9)
God is with me right now! 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23 Do you ever doubt whether God is with you? Some look around this world, see pain, despair, heartache, and they wonder where God is. They doubt that God is with us, but to be clear, He is with us! He made His presence known in Jesus Christ! One of the most amazing promises Jesus made us, that reflects God’s presence, is His willingness to come alongside us to help carry life’s heavy burdens. (Matthew 11:28-29). Do you need Jesus to come alongside you right now? He will!
Jesus refreshes my soul! 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, Acts 3:19. When I give my life to Jesus, He refreshes my soul! He takes care of the sin that burdens and overwhelms me and guides me in the way I should go! (Psalm 23)
Jesus changes me and inspires others by His amazing work in my life! When Peter, in Jesus’ name, healed a crippled man at the temple gate, people took notice. 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Acts 3:10. God wants to heal you from your sin and transform you into the person He longs for you to be in Christ. Will you let Him do that so people can see His work in you and be inspired?
Jesus blesses me by turning my life around! 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” Acts 3:26 Jesus came to bless you! He blesses you by turning you from wicked to wonderfully transformed! (Romans 12) Will you allow Him, and the Holy Spirit, to go to work in you?
What does Jesus fulfilling the promise of a Messiah tell me about God? Because God fulfilled His promise to send a Messiah, His only Son, Jesus Christ, you and I can count on all God’s promises! 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” Luke 1:37. And God’s word is full of promises for you!
For much more, listen to Advent - Christmas is Coming - Part 2 - Promise.
