December 10 | Isaiah 7:10-14

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DAILY READING

Isaiah 7:10-14

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REFLECTION

God with Us

By Pam Mann

When we read this short passage, the messianic prophecy in verse 14 jumps out at us. We marvel at this cherished scripture that foretells of Jesus’ virgin birth. But there is also an early fulfillment of this prophecy in the lifetime of its first hearers.

At the start of chapter 7, Isaiah comes to King Ahaz whose heart is quaking with fear of impending invaders. Isaiah assures Ahaz that God has positive plans for his nation. However, Ahaz will be reassured. He refuses to believe that God is present and at work.

At this point, God tells Ahaz to ask Him for a sign of His faithfulness. “Nah,” says Ahaz, “I wouldn’t want to bother Yahweh.”

Of course, Isaiah can’t believe Ahaz’s response. (Note: When God tells you to ask for a sign, ask for a sign.) God knows how lame Ahaz’s faith is. God wants to build up Ahaz’s trust in His provision. Yet Ahaz is not interested.

God gives a sign anyway. This sign of Isaiah 7:14 has a double fulfillment. The first fulfillment comes in Isaiah 8 when a young woman bears a son. That child, however, gets a much longer name than Immanuel, a name which means The spoil (of war) speeds, the prey hastens. This means that the war that Ahaz dreads is coming. And then, God speaks of a future deliverer, described in Isaiah 9. This is another double fulfillment prophecy.

We can understand Ahaz’s bad attitude. He wants what he wants, when he wants it, and how he wants it. Who hasn’t felt like that at times? But when we have responsibility for the people of God and God’s work, it’s time to lose the selfish attitude and ask: “What does God want?”

If we really want God with us, we respect God as Lord of angel armies. He decides the tactics, determines the training routine, and gets the glory for what is accomplished. When He speaks, we listen and obey. When He holds back, we wait. We wait even for millennia, especially for Immanuel, our God with us.

This is why Matthew (Matthew 1:22-23) reads Isaiah with new eyes after he has met Jesus. He sees in Isaiah 7:14 more than a child born at the time of Isaiah. He sees Jesus, the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah. Like us, now that Matthew sees Jesus in the Isaiah passage, he can’t un-see it.

PRAYER

Thank you, Jesus, for being our Immanuel. You are God with us. Thank you for leaving the glory of heaven to become the perfect Lamb of God for our sake. We honor You as the Lord God Almighty, the God of angel armies, and we give ourselves to Your service. Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PAM MANN

I first joined UALC when my husband (then my fiancé) and I were college students involved in youth ministry. God has used UALC to nurture our family’s faith, even in our years outside the U.S. I’ve participated in UALC ministries with kids, art, prayer, exercise, ESL, and Bible teaching. I do all the fun church things.

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December 9 | John 5:25-29

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DAILY READING

John 5:25-29

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REFLECTION

Did Jesus Claim to be God?

By Dave Mann

Have you ever heard someone state that Jesus never claimed to be divine and that it was only the church councils hundreds of years after Jesus walked the earth that claimed that for him?  The one who says that Jesus never gave evidence of being divine has not read the New Testament attentively. Today’s text is one of many times when Jesus clearly demonstrates divine authority.

In verse 26, Jesus states “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.” All ordinary human beings are given life by their parents.  Only God has life in and of himself.  God’s self-description is "I am who I am" (Exodus 3:14).

When Jesus encountered a paralytic, he not only healed him but also forgave his sins.  The Pharisees were astounded that Jesus would claim this authority.  The religious leaders were rightly offended, that is, IF Jesus did not have divine authority.  But if he was God he was in his appropriate zone (Mark 2:1-12).

When Thomas, the doubting disciple, finally encountered the risen Christ face to face, he fell at the feet of Jesus and proclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus accepted this proclamation of faith as valid.  He did not refuse to receive this worship reserved for God only (John 20:27-28).  Contrarily, John the disciple fell in worship at the feet of an angel.  The angel refused to accept his worship due to God alone (Revelation 22:8-9).

Let us conclude today’s devotional with the words of C.S. Lewis from Mere Christianity.

“I am trying to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.” That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic–on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg–or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, the second person of the Holy Trinity from before the foundation of the world, you chose to become incarnate in human flesh.  You walked this earth, you suffered rejection, pain, crucifixion, and rose again.  You give life to all who believe in you.  May my heart, body, and soul fall before you, proclaiming you to be my Lord and my God.  Amen!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE MANN

I am a Pastor for Internationals (retired) in the UALC community. I am married to Pam, father of four, and grandfather of six. Pam and I have lived twenty of our years in other countries including France, Cameroon, Haiti, and Morocco. In retirement, we continue to enjoy writing devotionals, learning languages, and teaching English to internationals.

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December 8 | Ezekiel 37:15-28

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DAILY READING

Ezekiel 37:15-28

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REFLECTION

Sticks Reunited!

By Elaine Pierce

Scripture often uses object lessons or analogies to teach us deep truths. In today's passage, God tells Ezekiel to use two sticks to illustrate how the two divided kingdoms - Judah and Israel - will one day be united. The sticks are stronger together, and the divided people, God's chosen, will one day be free from bondage: "They will be my people and I will be their God." (v. 23).

The last 4 verses of this passage are interesting, aren't they. God tells Ezekiel that David will be the king of this united nation. How can that be? King David reigned many, many years ago. As Christians, we know that the new King David is our Lord Jesus Christ. The two nations, Israel and Judah, are mini depictions of the whole human race. We declare that we will always follow God, then we turn from him into idolatry and selfish living. We repent, rinse and repeat. Jesus paid the price once and forever for our sins, and Ezekiel paints a beautiful picture of what life will be like when the Lord of Lords and King of Kings is finally in his rightful place on the throne:

"I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people." (v. 26-27).

The two sticks will become one. Christendom, which today is divided into hundreds of rival groups, will celebrate our King together. Families will be reunited. Wars will cease. Quarrels will end. As we wait in hopeful anticipation of Jesus' birth, let's take time each day to celebrate this future vision, to rest in the certain assurance that one day, we will meet him face to face. Our tears will turn into shouts of joy and praise. Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Thanks be to God!

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for this Advent season. Help me to focus on your coming, and to love you and serve you. When I fail - and I will - help me to come to you with a contrite spirit. Give me a heart of flesh, and take me away from sin and my shame. Help me each day to rest in your love and your forgiveness. Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ELAINE PIERCE

It is a delight and joy to write Sunday's UALC Blog post. I have been a UALC member for 20+ years and I value our community of believers. I draw strength from God's Word, and it is my hope that you join me in seeking to grow closer to Him as we read, study, and pray together. I've been married to Gene for 47 years, and we have four grown children and nine grandchildren. It is an exciting time to be alive, and I count it all joy to serve him, even in the midst of challenges. To God be the glory, for the great things he is doing!

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