Why are Promises Important?
The promise is important because it builds trust with the person who is the issues the promise. When their promises are fulfilled over and over you can have faith that future promises will be delivered.
All throughout the Bible is the word “Promise”. God promises Adam and Eve, He promised Noah, Abraham, Issac, Moses, the Children of Israel, Martha, Mary, the followers of Jesus. In almost every chapter there is a promise to an individual or a group of people.
Much of the time God’s promises after suffering or a tragedy. God promised Noah the earth would never be destroyed by flood again. He promised the Israelites suffering in Egypt that he would send them a deliverer. Moses came.
He promised Abraham He would make him the father of a great nation. Abrahams 12 sons became the 12 tribes of Israel that would eventually scatter throughout the world. We are Abraham’s offspring.
Jesus Christ is the promise born in a manger, given to us for the salvation of the world.
Promises Come in Time
What is missing is “when” the promise will be fulfilled. Rarely are God’s promises quick in coming.
But God doesn’t forget about them. The promise is important in building faith. God gave the promise of His son to Adam, Abraham, Old Testament prophets, Joseph and many others. They must have talked to others. In fact, they did. They wrote down the promise. It’s written in the book of Isaiah.
People rely on promises. They hang onto promises. Your kids hang onto the promises you make. They remind you of them. “Remember, you promised.” Promises give us faith in the future and in God. The promise is important because it gives trust and reassurance.
When we as parents honor a promise to our kids, we give them trust and reassurance. In return, our kids knowing we will honor our promises then are more inclined to honor their promise of honoring their father and mother.
Promised Birth of Baby Jesus
The birth of baby Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises.
He is our promise that brings His people out of the bondage of slavery to their sins. A promise to heal the sick, forgive our sins and give us salvation. Jesus is our salvation and our eternal life.
So we can trust in Jesus, true man and true God, to deliver on the promises He makes us. Our trust in Jesus is what causes us to ask for forgiveness because we know they will be forgiven.
Links for Advent Season Reflections: Friday, First Week Advent
Reading for the 1st Friday in Advent: Isaiah 9:1-7
Daily Lectionary
- Higher Things: Dare to Be Lutheran – The First Friday of Advent
- Trinity Lutheran Church: First Sunday of Advent Sermon (listen to audio here)
- First Wednesday of Lent Sermon (listen to audio)
