Devotion
Signs of the saviour
David Jacobs
Isaiah is one of the most influential and important prophets in the Bible. He lived about 700 years before Christ was born, during a tumultuous time for the kingdom of Judah. He is one of the few people that were able to foresee the future through a connection with God, predicting many of the most important outcomes that would occur centuries later. In these verses, Isaiah is talking with the newly appointed king of Judah, Ahaz, who is stuck between a rock and hard place with several armies coming to invade his kingdom. Likely in his 20s, Ahaz did not know what to do and sought council with the wiser Isaiah.
In these verses, Isaiah has attempted to help Ahaz, offering him spiritual guidance, which Ahaz refuses. Ahaz is trying to think of a way to save himself at all costs, willing to broker alliances with enemies in order to save his own skin. Isaiah wants to send Ahaz and the kingdom of Judah a message, and he makes his proclamation here to reassure the people of Judah of the covenant that their ancestors made with God.
In hindsight, it may seem that Ahaz is a fool, but what would you have done differently? Ahaz did not know what would happen and he did not have a strong faith to rely on. Isaiah had built a strong foundation based on faith that he could fall on in difficult times. Like Isaiah, we need to foster our relationship with God so that when we see the armies of our enemies, of sin and temptation, we are strengthened by faith, with the knowledge that our God will not abandon us.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I ask that you strengthen my faith today and all days. I know that I have not always been strong, I have doubted, and I have sinned in your eyes, O Lord, and I thank you for being so merciful and patient. You have given me a chance, even a second chance, and I shall not waste it or be unfaithful to you. I want to thank you for giving me these chances, through the virgin birth and the life of your only begotten son, in whose name I pray. Amen.
Devotion
Let us Bless The Lord
Frances Taylor
This is one of the psalms attributed to David. He is thanking God for rescuing him and promising to bless God at all times. He asks us to join him in his praises. He says his soul shall boast in the Lord. St. Paul tells us that we, too, should only boast in the Lord because it is he who always saves us. So, today, make a list. Make a list of everything that you are thankful for. Make a list of every success you have had and every failure you have survived. Make a list of every person who has helped you grow as a person and as a Christian. Now, look at it. Each of the items, events or persons on these lists are blessings from God. Either now, or before the day is over, bless and thank God for each of them. Ask God, also, to bless each of the people you have listed that you might be a blessing for them. If some of them are now with God, they would still like to hear you say thank you. God is so good to us all the time, and as one of my favorite ...
Morning Prayer
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Inspiration
Jesus tried to minister to the people in his town, but they rejected that he was the son of God. They only saw him as the son of a carpenter. There are many other Jews, who were referred to as God's own, who rejected Jesus Christ as the son of God, too. This is how Jesus ended up being crucified. But this did not deter Christ from His mission. He held nothing against anyone who rejected them. He forgave them and prayed that they would be saved.
Prayer
Dear God, I thank you for your son, Jesus Christ, who loved us so much, he did not hold it against any man when they wronged Him. Lord, I pray that I can exemplify this kind of love in my life too. I cannot do that without your help, Lord. May you help me to follow the example your son set for me, Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
