...With a Promise!

Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel."

Around 735 years before Christ, the prophet Isaiah made the above promise. He later would describe in great detail the suffering that Christ would endure in chapter 53. At the time of this prophecy, it had no real impact and it wouldn't be until Christ was born that it's significance would be revealed. Here is the point. This nation was given a promise during a very troubling time. The promise did not fix their problem immediately or how they thought it should be fixed. In the end, the promise was kept. How many times have we began to lose hope in God, because He didn't show up the way we wanted him to? God has given us a promise, and He is faithful to provide. As Christians, we need to learn to be patient and wait on God rather than expecting God to wait on us.
During this holiday season, it is important to remember that we not only celebrate the birth of Christ, but also a promise that was kept to God's people almost 735 years after it was made. God never forgets us and has a plan that will be worked out in His timing.