God Always Keeps His Promises

The prophet Malachi was the last man in the Old Testament to receive a word from God. And then, for the next four hundred years, there was silence. The people of Israel were conquered first by Alexander the Great and then later by the Romans. God did not give new revelation through prophets. Despite the hopes and prayers of the people, they were not delivered from their enemies. There surely must have been some doubt in their minds as to what was going on—whether or not God could be trusted. God had promised through Malachi that a prophet like Elijah would come, but years passed and nothing happened.

Yet in His perfect timing, when all of pieces were in place, God sent John the Baptist. From the moment of his birth, John was prepared for a truly unique ministry. He would be the one who would identify Jesus to the nation of Israel as the Messiah they had been seeking. Though his ministry was not lengthy and ended with his death at the hands of Herod, John did the most important thing anyone could do—he told people about Jesus: “And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true” (John 10:41). 

The life and ministry of John the Baptist is a reminder to us that everything God says can be believed, and in His timing it will come to pass. When we do not see God’s promises unfolding on our timetable, we can remember that God does always keep His promises. 

Today’s Discipleship Principle: We can always trust what God says, no matter what may be going on around us.