Christmas
Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger. Luke 2:7 (CSB)
Of all the promises you have made or were made to you, how many were kept? The number of promises kept can vary widely depending on the context. The concept of promise-keeping can be quite subjective and depends on the perspective and criteria used to evaluate them. As Christians, we strive to keep the promises we make; however, as sinners, we often fall short. Fortunately for us, our Heavenly Father keeps His promises. There are roughly 7,000 promises recorded in the Bible that the Lord has made and kept.
Some 2,000 years ago, in the humble surroundings of Bethlehem, the promise of a Savior made in the Garden of Eden 4,000 years earlier and repeated throughout the Old Testament was fulfilled. The announcement by the Angel Gabriel to Mary nine months earlier came to fruition in a quiet animal stable. The angel’s message to Joseph in his dream, that Jesus was to be born of Mary, was realized in the middle of the night. The Savior of the world entered the world and was laid in a manger. As humble as the setting was, it underscores the profound truth that the King of kings is truly the King of all!
While the Lord kept His promise and saved us from our sins, it also reassures us that everything our Heavenly Father has promised has been and will be fulfilled. As we continue our earthly journeys, awaiting the promise of heaven, we find comfort in Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 28:20: “And remember, I am with you always.” May our annual celebrations of Christ’s birth lead us to cherish all the promises the Lord has made.
Let the earth now praise the Lord, Who hath truly kept His word
And the sinners’ Help and Friend Now at last to us doth send.
What the fathers most desired, What the prophets’ heart inspired,
What they longed for many a year, Stands fulfilled in glory here.
The Lutheran Hymnal 91:1-2