Advent Devotional by Kathleen Schwartz December 7 – A Promise

Often in the Bible, God gave a promise and then He gave a sign to confirm the promise, to remind of the promise.  One of the signs that we can see even today is the rainbow.  After the great flood, God gave the promise that he would never destroy the earth again like he had with the flood.  The sign was the rainbow.  On Tuesday, we had some rain and then the most beautiful complete rainbow arched across the sky.  It was brighter than a picture on my camera could show.  It became to me, on my birthday, a sign of God’s presence with me and His love for me.

In Isaiah 7, God promised King Ahaz that he would crush their enemies.  God asked King Ahaz to ask for a sign.  The King refused.  Isaiah said, “All right then, the Lord himself will choose the sign.  Look!  The virgin will conceive a child!  She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel – ‘God is with us.’”

Jesus was a living sign that God is with us.  We all know that the birth of Jesus was unlike any other birth before or after.  But do we take seriously that this was God with us?  Do we realize that God is with us in all situations and at all times?  When we are stressed, God is with us.  When pains and discouragements crowd in upon us, God is with us.  When we are hurt by others actions or in-actions, God is with us.  When rainbows cover the sky and joy fills our hearts, God is with us.  In successes, God is with us.  In failures, God is with us.  GOD IS WITH US!

Dear God, Thank you that you are ALWAYS with us.  Please remind us when we tend to forget or doubt.  Help us live our lives as testimonies that You are always with us, always there.  Amen,  Come, Lord Jesus!