(A Christmas Devotional) God Keeps His Promises

 

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,  

for He who promised is faithful.”  

Hebrews 10:23 

The promise that Jesus would come was given all the way back in the Garden (Genesis 3:15), repeated to Abraham (Genesis 22:18), again to Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15), and throughout the Prophets (Isaiah 7:14; 9:2; 53; Micah 5:2) and Psalms (Psalm 2; 22).  

   And then, in the fullness of time, the angel Gabriel was sent to a young girl in Nazareth, and God kept His promise. God was faithful, and Mary believed. “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord,” (Luke 1:45). Mary and Zecharias praised God in their songs for His faithfulness in keeping His promise to Israel.  

  If God kept the greatest promise He ever made, do you not think He will keep all His other promises? He promises to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He promises that no weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). He promises that all things work together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). He promises that we will not be tempted beyond what we are able, but He will make a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). And He promises that He is our help and our shield (Psalm 33:20).  

  During World War II, a young Dutch woman named Diet Eman was imprisoned in a concentration camp because she helped rescue Jews. One day, she was called for a hearing. Fear gripped her. What am I going to say? she thought.  

   And then suddenly God’s promises came to her. Don’t worry. If you appear before authorities and kings, I will give you the words. Not a hair of your head will be harmed without the will of your heavenly Father.  

   Okay, Diet thought. I have often broken my promises to You, Lord, but You’ll never break Your promises. You take over now. You have promised it—now You have to do it. I am going into my hearing, and You have said that You would be my God. Now I’m going to hold you to it. 

   And God was faithful. He gave her the words to say.  

   We break our promises. But God never breaks His.  

Footnotes: Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version. Diet Eman’s story is taken from the book Things We Couldn’t Say by Diet Eman with James Schapp.  Photo is of Diet Eman.