Promise Keeper

“From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.”
ACTS 13:23 NIV


A perpetual college football powerhouse, the University of Michigan Wolverines have built a culture of champions on the gridiron. One season, the coaching staff all took note of a unique athlete on the team who carried himself in every area of his life with an indescribable charisma.

One of the assistant coaches couldn’t shake his curiosity and talked to this athlete. With an infectious cheer, this collegiate invited the assistant coach to a meeting, where a speaker gave a testimony of his faith. That assistant coach, Bill McCartney, eventually accepted Christ as his personal savior and went on to be the head coach of the University of Colorado Buffaloes, ultimately winning a national championship. More important, he founded the astounding ministry of Promise Keepers. Promise Keepers has impacted millions of men around the world. With God’s help, this throng of men have vowed to become Promise Keepers—to keep their promises as husbands and fathers.

The phrase “promise keeper” is powerful because it evokes character traits of trustworthiness, truthfulness, and faithfulness. These traits are revealed in the perfect promise keeper, our Father in heaven. Our Heavenly Father promised to give the world a Savior, His own unique Son, Jesus Christ.

Luke recorded this truth in Acts 13:23. This verse is from Paul’s first recorded sermon, which took place in Pisidian Antioch. After selections from the Old Testament were read in the synagogue, leaders invited Paul to share a word of encouragement. Paul took the opportunity to survey the history of Israel. He traced this history from Egypt to the Resurrection of Jesus. Couched in the middle of the story, Paul gave central recognition to David. This illustrated David’s connection to the Savior, Jesus, who was born from David’s lineage. Paul’s sermon clearly demonstrated that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God’s promise to provide a Messiah. The Father and the Son are promise keepers. Their Word can always be trusted.

Christmas is a blessing of the promise-keeping God and His Son, our Savior, whose birth we celebrate during this special season. Merry Christmas!