This post is “Christmas – Day 13”, if you haven’t already read Day 1, please click here.
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Christmas – Day 13

Isaiah 7:14

So the Lord himself will give you this sign: A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel [God Is With Us].

The Thought

Isaiah 7:14 So the Lord himself will give you this sign: A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel. About seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus, God had promised to send a Saviour. Isaiah was a prophet to Ahaz.

About seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus, God promised to send a Saviour. Isaiah was a prophet to Ahaz the king of Judah. He reassured the king that his worst fears of the kings of Israel and Aram working together and taking over Jerusalem would not be realised.

I find it hard to understand how a prophecy which wouldn’t manifest for another seven centuries was helpful! But the words were recorded for us, so that those who choose to, can research the scriptures. They can see how God worked in the past, and know with certainty that Jesus is the expected Messiah.

I do not suppose Isaiah’s listeners had any idea how long in the future that event would be. It reminds me of the verses in the last book of the Bible, Revelation, where 4 times Jesus tells John that He is coming soon.

2000 years later we are still waiting, and hoping, and praying.

Action

Pray for those you know and love to recognise the truth of the Virgin birth, and to be prepared for Jesus’ return. Ask yourself if you are ready.

Remember Luke 18:8 “… when the Son of man comes will He find faith on the earth?” The following verses talk of the Pharisee (proud, self righteous) and the tax collector (humble, repentant) calling out for God’s mercy.

Remember that having faith doesn’t mean being a leader in the church or even going to church. It means having a real relationship with God, recognising what Jesus has done for us, and being active in prayer and praise and the gifts of the Spirit.