Christmas: God Fulfilling Promises
(Reflection from Isaiah 7:13-14)
“Christmas Reflection”
As humans, it is easy for us to
promise, but to keep that promise is not easy, sometimes even missed. Many
people are disappointed because people have broken promises.
Because when we trust someone's
promise, we give him trust which is very expensive. Right?
So when that person breaks his promise,
it's no wonder we are so disappointed. Because we seem to have wasted something
that is very expensive, namely trust.
Did you know that Christmas is a story about fulfilling promises?
Christmas is a story
about fulfilling promises.
There is someone who promises, namely
God Himself. That promise was made some 700 years before Jesus was born, is
written in the book of Isaiah:
Isaiah 7:13-14 (The Message Bible)
So
Isaiah told him, “Then listen to this, government of David! It’s bad enough
that you make people tired with your pious, timid hypocrisies, but now you’re
making God tired. So the Master is going to give you a sign anyway. Watch for
this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She’ll bear a son and
name him Immanuel (God-With-Us).
Why did God make promises like
this? What has happened?
The simple version of the story is
this. This is also an
event that is often faced by God's children today. That was at that time the
people of Israel, who claimed to believe in God, believed that God was able to
help them, believed that God existed.
But that believe, that faith, is only in
the mouth.
In the reality of his life? Still
worrying, still continuing to fear even, and still continuing to rely on
himself instead of relying on God.
Because of that, God made a promise.
700 years before Jesus was born, HE said I would give you a sign. Something
that had never happened before, that could not have happened, that was
impossible for you.
Long story short, then, God fulfilled
His promise with Christmas events.
Matthew 1:23
“The
virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him
Immanuel”[a] (which means “God with us”).
The birth of Jesus on earth was
a fulfillment of a promise.
What is unique here is that God is not just fulfilling His
promises. He
fulfills His promises in an unusual, miraculous way. Birth of a virgin.
Natural laws are defeated. God is on
it. It's so true: Nothing is impossible with God. Amen.
The promise that He will be with us,
always with us is His greatest promise. And he fulfilled his birth as Jesus,
the God of Immanuel.
Besides the promise to give
Immanuel, God also has many other promises in the Bible.
- When we are struggling in economic matters, hold on to this verse: "My God will supply all your needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19).
- When we are overcome with fear say to your heart: "Even though I walk in the valley of darkness, I do not fear danger, for You are with me ... .." (Psalm 23: 4).
- When we have to choose between ministry and work, remember these words of God: But seek first the kingdom of God and its truth, and they will be added to you. ” (Matt. 6:33)
- When we have a need, hold on to these words of God: "If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want, and you will receive it." (John 15: 7).
- When we doubt whether God will forgive our sins and accept us back: "If we confess our sins, then He is faithful and just, so that He will forgive all our sins and cleanse us from all evil." (1 John 1: 9)
- When we feel hopeless and there is no way out: “For God is faithful, and because of that he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength. When you are tempted, He will give you a way out so that you can endure it ” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Can
we believe this God's word promises? Or are we still like the Israelites who
only believed by mouth?
But in your daily
actions? still worry, fear, or even find your way on
your own?
Think about it:
Sometimes a promise can go unfulfilled by someone because:
(1) He cannot
fulfill a promise, even if he wants to .. Or,
(2) He DOES NOT
WANT to fulfill that promise, even though he could.
What about Jesus?
Is he capable? Does He wants to?
Jesus is wonderful and Amen.
In Jesus, He is wonderful: He is capable!
In Jesus it is
AMEN: He wants to!
Read also: The First Hand Meaning of Christmas
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