Advent devotional - I Promise

God gives Ahaz a sign. Isaiah 7:1-14     King Ahaz was scared. His knees knocked together. His arms trembled. The hearts of the king and all his people shook like the trees of a forest whipped around by the wind. Two armies marched down the road to attack King Ahaz and his city. Two armies that had ruined cities and captured prisoners. Hup, two, three, four. Hup, two, three, four. What am I going to do? thought King Ahaz. The king turned and saw Isaiah and his son standing next to him. “I have a message from God,” Isaiah the prophet said, “God says... Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid   (Isaiah 7:4). “The two kings and their armies won’t destroy you or your city. This is how you’ll know what I’m saying is true: “The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son” (v.14).

Still King Ahaz trembled. He didn’t keep calm, and he was very afraid. The two armies seemed so big; God seemed so far away. Will I really win? thought King Ahaz. Will God help me like He promised? King Ahaz didn’t think so, and he asked another King, King Tiglath-Pileser, to help him instead. How do you think God felt when King Ahaz asked someone else for help? Do you think God keeps His promises? All of the time? God does keep all of His promises. If He says something, you can believe it’s true. Always true. Just like He keeps His promises, He asks you to keep yours. When you say you’ll do something, do it. If you can’t do something, don’t make a promise that you will. God is faithful to keep all His promises. Be faithful to keep all of yours.

Excerpted from: 

 The Family Book of Advent: 25 Stories & Activities to Celebrate the Real Meaning of Christmas     by Carol Garborg