Advent 3

God’s Promises

You cannot fully tell the Christmas story without speaking of King David. Many centuries before the Messiah was born, God gave David—the man after His own heart—a promise:

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever (2 Sam. 7:12-13).

How long did the people of Israel wait for that promise to be fulfilled? They waited eagerly for the coming of the forever King. And yet, as the centuries passed, it would have been easy to believe that God had forgotten His promise to David. But in the joy of Christmas, we receive this truth: God always keeps His promises. He may not fulfill His Word according to our timing, but He never forgets, and He always speaks the truth. In the birth of Jesus, we see the fulfillment of God’s ancient promise.

Christ has also made a promise to us. He has promised to return and to save us fully from sin, death, and the devil. We await that day with eager hope. And yet, two thousand years later, how easy it is to wonder whether God still remembers His people.

In moments like these, we return to the Christmas story. There we are reminded that God keeps His promises to you. He will keep His Word. He will come again.

Father God,

We thank you that you speak truth.

Your Word is truth.

Give us patience as we await the fulfillment of your promises.

Come Lord Jesus!

Amen.

Pastor Peter Deberny

LWML Atlantic District Pastoral Counselor

Pastor of Grace, Mastic Beach, NY