Waiting. It is sometimes the hardest thing to do. Like a child who can’t wait for Christmas. How much more difficult it was for Mary and Joseph … to wait for the birth of Jesus. Even moreso for the people of Israel who waited for the coming Messiah for centuries. Living in anticipation of God’s coming is what gives us hope!
PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus, into my world today. May I discover and celebrate the birth of your presence and power in the middle of my daily routine and responsibilities. Help me to see the star and hear the angels in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Monday – Isaiah 7:10-17; Matthew 1:18-23
The people of Isaiah were facing grave danger. But Isaiah offered the King a sign of assurance. A young woman would give birth to a son. By the time the boy was old enough to discern right from wrong, those enemy kings that posed a threat would be gone. Matthew tells us that the angel encouraged Joseph to take Mary as his wife because the prophecy would be fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. His birth would be an assurance of God’s deliverance. So the people waited with hope. What assurance do you need of God’s deliverance for you?
Tuesday – Isaiah 9:1-7
Hope comes like a light in the darkness. Even though we may be discouraged from the dim gloom all around us, we can still see the flicker of a light in the distance. The people of Israel looked for the Messiah to be like this..see verse 6. How does this child bring light and hope to your world?
Wednesday – Isaiah 11:1-9
Assyria and Babylon were not gentle masters. They were about empire building and violent war to get it. But according to Isaiah, this Messiah was about a different kind of empire – one of peace and shalom. True peace comes not with force and fear, but in reverent worship of God. How does the birth of the Messiah bring peace and hope to your world?
Thursday – Isaiah 26:1-6
The people who lived in lofty places were the rich and powerful. But the Assyrians and the Babylonians had not respect for them. In war and exile, they were brought down and made vulnerable like all the rest. But the prophet signals where true peace and hope comes from. See verse 3-4. It is not through walls and high places, strong armies or positions of power and affluence. It is only in God. How does Christmas reveal God’s gift of peace and hope to our world today?
Friday – Isaiah 53:1-12
It isn’t just the birth of this homeless baby in Bethlehem. It is what Jesus did with his life that wins us the gift of salvation. The prophet Isaiah saw the unexpected twist where the Messiah would sacrifice his life as payment for our sins. Who would have believed it? Yet, because he did, Christmas takes on more significance than just the birth of a baby. Jesus becomes our gift of grace and forgiveness. In his birth, life, death, and resurrection we have peace and hope. How can you taste that gift in your Christmas this year?
Saturday – Psalm 62:1-8
Even before Jesus’ birth, people had discovered the secret to hope and peace was in trusting in God.Even in waiting for the birth of the Messiah, people found light in the darkness through faith.Waiting is hard, but it is also a time to deepen faith and strengthen hope.How can you find hope and peace in waiting for Christmas this year?