My title for this devotion is Your word: Bond vs Betrayal.

When I was young whippersnapper growing up, I remember often many adults, especially my grandfather and my father, saying, “Remember Bill. Your word is your bond.” Back then (it was the Dark Ages you know?) a handshake was enough. Deals were sealed by the shaking of hands. There was no “pinky swear.” Often times, there was no contract.

But times have changed. We recently had to have some maintenance done to our house. The biggest was replacing our 20+ year old roof made of shingles they no longer make. 🙂 I contacted different roofers and settled on one who gave me the best price and had a good reputation. We also needed more room badly so I asked him to extend our small kitchen and add an extension (18×14) using the existing patio. The work was to start in September. How does late October/early November sound? Then he kept putting me off-starting and stopping, skipping days on end-and fitting me in whenever and losing precious good days. Before he started I had also asked him about finishing the room inside as well. He shot me a price. Sounded good until it came time to possibly start. Suddenly his price was not all that good. His words failed. I had some friends help.

Sadly, his word did not mean that much. I’m glad God was not like Him. God gave a promise (a covenant) to Abram. He changed his name to Abraham which was like His handshake. And He saw it through. It turned out just as He said-Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, Jesus. There were more, of course, but just 6 names alone show God’s amazing promise and keeping His Word.

“Father, Your Word, Your covenant, Your promise was enough. You said it would be and it was. Through all the highs and lows of Israel’s history, Your promise never wavered. It still doesn’t.”

{And just an aside: can you think of any better time (other than Easter) to remember this covenant-keeping God than right now at Christmas? Merry Christmas to all of you.  May this time of the year be filled with Jesus and the essentials He offers: LOVE. JOY. PEACE. HOPE.}