Daily Devotional For Tuesday, December 3, 2024
We’re looking together at words that represent the truth of what God wants for you this Christmas. Today, the word is PROMISE. Christmas is all about the promises of God for your life. It’s a promise fulfilled. In one sense, all of the Old Testament is pointing towards the promise that was fulfilled with the birth of Christ. It starts with the promise in Genesis 3 that someday one born of a woman would crush the head of satan, and it goes all the way to the promise of the coming of the forerunner of Christ in the last verses of Malachi.
In the Old Testament, there are over 300 prophecies of the Messiah which are fulfilled in the life of Jesus. Many of them are extremely detailed: that he would be born in Bethlehem and taken to Egypt, that he would cleanse the temple, be betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver, and that they would cast lots for his garments as he suffered. Many of the prophecies could only be fulfilled by the miraculous power of God: that He would be born of a virgin, rise from the dead, and ascend into heaven.
The mathematical possibility of even a few of these prophecies being fulfilled in one life are staggering. Even more staggering is the awesome expression of God’s love in this fulfillment. God promised to rescue us through sending a Messiah, and He kept every one of those promises by coming Himself as the Messiah. The fulfillment of the promise to send a Messiah is one of the most powerful examples that we have of the faithfulness of God.
It’s a promise found. The promise of Christmas is not just about what God fulfilled in the past. It’s also about what God wants to do in your life today. God wants to fulfill all of His promises in your life, and He makes it a matter of your personal faith. Each of us must find these promises for ourselves in God’s word, and then trust Him to keep them. A promise that is not found is like a check that is never cashed or a cave rich with gold that is never mined.
Jesus tells three stories about finding the promise of salvation. You might remember that the three parables in Luke 16 are about finding a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. Every one of those stories ends the same way — with the incredible joy of finding something that was lost.
Many of us have lost the promises of God — even though they are right there in the Bible, and God promises to keep them as we trust him. The Bible very clearly tells us where to start in discovering these promises. To find the promises of God for your life, you must remember this: Jesus says, “Yes, and you say, “Amen.”
Look at 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for His glory” (NLT). So through Him, you can say, “Amen.” Amen means “so be it.” It’s not just a prayer sign-off; it’s actually a word of great faith. When you say amen, you are saying that you trust in Jesus’ yes. More than your circumstances or your doubts, you trust that Jesus has said yes to his promises for you.
Questions To Consider
- Take your Bible and read Isaiah 7:14. This is a promise from God. It would be 700 years before it would be fulfilled. 700 years! — that is a long time to wait for a promise to be fulfilled. With those with you go around and share if they can remember, what is the longest they personally have waited for a promise to be fulfilled. How did they deal with that?
- What are some of your favorite promises from God and why?
- Take your Bible and read Micah 5:2. Here is another promise from God about the coming Messiah. What is the significance of this promise and how does it impact your life today?
- When has someone broken a promise to you and how did you deal with it? How did they deal with it? When have you made a promise and failed to keep it? How did you and that person deal with it?
- If you have children, have them explain what is the best promise they have ever been given and why is that important to them?
Scripture To Meditate On: Isaiah 9:6-7, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (7) There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this” (NASB).
Prayer to Pray: “Jesus, you have already said yes to Your promises for my life. I thank You Lord that You keep Your word. Lord, when situations seem bleak, dark and hopeless, please help me to have Your peace that goes beyond all understanding. So be it, Lord. I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
I love you Southside!—Pastor Kelly