Standing on the Promises

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a Ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on My behalf." (Micah 5:2)

For years, one of our favorite Christmas traditions has been traveling to Indiana for the grandkids' children's choir program at their church. (It's hard to believe that only one of the three is still young enough to participate.)

Watching a hundred kids singing praises to God and standing on the promises of Jesus is both joyous and heartwarming.

~

Over seven hundred years before His birth, God through the prophet Isaiah foretold that a virgin would conceive and bear a son and His name would be called Immanuel—God with us. (Isaiah 7:14)

He would be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2)

And He would bring good news to the poor in spirit, heal the brokenhearted, set the captives free, turn mourning to joy, and rebuild ruined lives. (Isaiah 61:1-3)

He would be treated harshly, led like a lamb to the slaughter, beaten and crushed. He would bear the sins for rebels. (Isaiah 53:7-12)

Every single one of these Old Testament promises of the Messiah Jesus Christ were fulfilled, and we can stand on the promises yet to come:

Someday Jesus will return from heaven in the same way He left. (Acts 1:11)

"...The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

God will elevate Him to the place of highest honor and give Him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, and in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father! (Philippians 2:9-11)

On this countdown to Christmas, beloved, keep standing on the promises of Jesus.