Wednesday, December 15
Isaiah 7:10-16 http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=159374880
A Sign
Ahaz, the king of Judah is in a foreign policy crisis. He fears that his neighbors to the north, Syria and Israel, will soon seek to overthrow him and seize the kingdom. The prophet Isaiah has assured the king that faith in God will save the nation, even in a political crisis. But Ahaz is not ready to depend on anything other than brute military force. In a defiant challenge, Isaiah invites the king to set a test for God, to show that God will be faithful. Ahaz would have none of that. After all, what would Ahaz do if God passed the test proving the prophet’s words to be true? Ahaz was not about ready to place his fate in the hands of God or anyone else.
Just the same, Isaiah announces that God will give a sign that will offer the people of faith assurance of his presence and power. “Look the young woman is with child and will bear a son, and he shall be named Emmanuel, God is with us.”
The Christian tradition has understood that this “sign” given against the will of king Ahaz in fact anticipates a much larger sign, the birth of the baby Jesus. The Advent question for us, then, is the same one faced by Ahaz. Indeed, it is the same one faced by Herod and by Pilate. What would happen if life were so reorganized that this baby’s presence became the very center of our being? What would happen if we actually invited God to become the keeper of our lives and our world? Everything changes when, “Emmanuel, God is with us!”
Today, I invite you to be a sign of God’s love and faithfulness to all those around you. Ask God to give you faith and insight so that each decision you make today, each interaction you share today, will have God’s love as its center.
Kid’s Challenge
Jesus is a sign for all the world of how much God loves us. We are called to be a sign for others by sharing Jesus’ love from our hearts in the way we talk, act, think and live. Treat everyone you meet today as if Jesus was standing right behind you, looking over your shoulder and watching.
Advent Blessings,
Rich
This Christmas, give the gift that only you can give,
…give yourself this Christmas! (Peter Mayer)
This story reminds me of how many times we have ignored God's voice in our ear and insisted on doing things our way. When God's will for our lives is ignored, things usually turn out badly, and then we say God doesn't hear our cry. We should live as if Jesus is looking over our shoulder because He is. We just can't always feel him because we are too intent on making things work our way. I am as guilty of this as anyone, so I'm not pointing any fingers except at myself. I will work on this fault of mine and try to listen to that small still voice more.
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