The Christmas Promise

     Rain, hail, sleet, or snow will not stop the diehard shopper camping for days or lining up for hours before stores open before sunrise the morning after Thanksgiving Day.  All this effort  for the day otherwise known as “Black Friday”; the official opening of the Christmas season and probably the biggest shopping day of the year.  There are the latest in electronics to get, gift bags to fill, bargains to find, and of course the search and seizure of the hottest new toy (that every child just has to have). 

     Adrenalin rises to a fevered pitch as the doors open and shoppers stampede down the aisles.  As the stock begins to dwindle with the best deals of the season, many shoppers will resort to pushing and grabbing until the shelf is bare.  Most of these same shoppers will overdraw their checking account, spend their rent money, and run their credit cards up to their limits.  Is all this in the “spirit of Christmas”?

     Most of us would agree that Christmas has been too commercialized. However, some of us would not agree that Christmas is the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year”.  What should be a time of love and sharing with family and friends, if spent alone, could turn into a season of sadness instead.  You might be “home for the holidays’, but with no one to share it with, it can cause deep depression and despair. 

     I vividly remember experiencing such a sad holiday season.  My marriage had broken up, my only brother had moved out of state, I wasn’t working, and I was all alone surviving in an abandoned house. However, it was during the midst of those dark days of December, God gave to me “The Christmas Promise”.  Now, years later, the Lord reminded me that His Christmas Promise is still relevant to me today, whether in good times or bad.  It is a threefold promise that captures the essence of the true meaning of Christmas.  It is the God of Heaven Himself saying:

·        I LOVE YOU!

     We all know that John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world that He gave us Jesus,  but you must realize that “God loves you” is so much more than just a religious saying.  It is the reality of knowing that the Creator of the universe, God Almighty, the Everlasting God, is saying to you—I love you!  He really loves you, and He loves you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).  God loves you no matter what! There is nothing that you can do to make God love you more; and there is nothing you can do to make God love you less.  God will forever say “I love you” because He proved His love by giving what cost the most—His Son.

     Your worth is determined by the price one is willing to pay.  In your case, that is everything.  Even if a man could gain the whole world, he could not exchange it for his own soul (Matthew 16:26).  However, knowing that you are so deeply loved is one of the greatest feelings on earth.  It puts a skip to your step, a song in your heart, and a smile on your face.  When you know that you are so precious and valuable, your life is brightened and now worth living.  Experiencing God’s love, a promise of Christmas, will truly make every day, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”.  God so loved that He gave Jesus—the Reason for the Season—to tell you:  I LOVE YOU! 

·        I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU!!

     Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us (Matthew 1:23).  The second part of “The Christmas Promise” is to be taken personally—God is with you.  Not only is He with you, He promises that He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

     Others might have left you and deeply broken your heart, but your faithful loving Lord means what He says.  When He says that He will never leave you, He won’t.  In fact, the word never in the Greek means a double negative strengthening the denial; not at all: - any more, at all, by any (no) means, neither, never, no (at all), in no case (wise), nor ever…Get the picture?  Wow!  That alone should raise our confidence of living life.  So don't be afraid, distraught or distressed anymore for your God will strengthen you, He will help you, and He will uphold you with His victorious right hand (Isaiah 41:10).  The Lord God is saying to you, “I am with you, and I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU!!”

·        I GIVE YOU PEACE!!!

     For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).  Even before the very first Christmas, the Prince of Peace has promised unto us His deep and lasting peace. 

     It was during my darkest hour when I let His peace flood my soul.  Although my circumstances did not change immediately, it was then I knew -- everything was going to be all right. So whether you are in the midst of sadness, stress, or sickness, let His peace comfort you and give you fearless confidence to face your future. Only then can you praise God with the heavenly host saying "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth” (Luke 2:13-14 NLT).  The Christmas Promise is to give you His peace.  Jesus fulfilled this promise by leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart (John 14:27).  Whatever you are going through, don't let your heart be troubled or afraid.  Just receive His promise, Jesus is saying, “I GIVE YOU PEACE!!!” 

     This threefold promise of His love, His ever-abiding presence, and His peace, brought me out of the depths of despair and healed my hurting heart.  God then gave me a hope, not only to get me through my day, but also to face my future with joyful expectation.  Now I pray that the God of hope will fill you too with all joy and peace and hope overflowing (Romans 15:13).  Let the Lord comfort you with unfailing love, bring confidence in His faithfulness, and console your life with perfect peace.  His promise beckons you to go boldly before Him anytime when you’re in need so that you can celebrate God’s gift of Jesus by receiving --

“THE CHRISTMAS PROMISE”