Have you ever heard the saying….. “your word is your bond”? It may be unfamiliar to young ones, but it means that what you say, you plan on doing. It’s like saying. “I promise”, and what I promise you really will do. Your word is your bond is an old phrase, but it holds a wonderful truth. In our time, it is really common for people to say one thing and do something totally opposite of what they promised. We’ve probably all had that happen…..on a big scale, or a small scale. Somebody promises you something and they never come through. It can be really disappointing. It makes us not want to trust the person who made the promise. Well guess who never breaks His promises? GOD! What He says, He will do. He has given us great and precious promises, and all His promises are yes to us! It brings joy when promises are fulfilled. God promised the Jewish people that He would send a deliverer, and guess what? He did exactly what He said He would do. JOY! It took hundreds of years…….and that’s a long time….but He came through on His Word. He sent a special delivery package to the earth in the form of a baby. Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, was born to save those who were held in bondage. He was joy to the world. He was born in a manger, to die on a cross, and rise from the dead to bring us new life. Jesus came to live with us and to live in us. Let’s have a heart full of joy to God, because He always keeps his promises!
Advent Activity: Show the value of promises kept, by making good on one of your promises to your kids. Maybe your promise was to go shopping together, or to go swimming, or skating, or just play a game or read a book together….be faithful in keeping your promises to your family!