Today's Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14

Daily Lectionary:Isaiah 44:21-45:13, 20-25; Revelation 12:1-17 

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Advent is over. The preparation for the coming of our Messiah is complete.  In the Divine Service we shift our hymnody from Advent to Christmas.  We celebrate the birth of Jesus, Immanuel, God with us!  The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled in the baby lying in a manger.

Our creator gives us exactly what we need.  We need a savior.  As King Ahaz dialogues with Isaiah, he thinks he needs an army to stave off the encroaching army from the north.  Isaiah reminds King Ahaz that the Lord God of this universe will guard the kingdom from the enemy.  Ahaz wants nothing to do with the Lord. (Is 7:12) Ahaz wants to lead the people on his own terms with the help of men not God.  He desires the credit of being the one who overthrew the enemy.  His pride has consumed him, and he no longer trusts in God.

Isaiah’s prophecy of the virgin giving birth to a son reminds King Ahaz that it is God’s plan not his that matters.  Today it is God’s plan that brings to us salvation through the forgiveness of sins in Christ.  The Old Adam in us wants Christmas to be about us and what we want.  “What’s in it for me?” is what the sinful self asks.  The world constantly reminds us of what we need for peace and comfort. His Holy Word reminds us that the birth of our savior Jesus Christ is the only gift we need.  In Christ the word became flesh.  The fulfillment of the prophets is at hand. Salvation has come into this world.  The kingdom of God is before us.  We take comfort daily knowing that our sins have been paid for with the one gift of God’s only son Jesus, Immanuel-God with us. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O God, You make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that as we joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold Him when He comes to be our Judge; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen (Collect for Christmas Eve-LSB)

-Pastor Timothy Paul Davis is Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church  in Athens Georgia.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Patrick Sturdivant, Development and Marketing Executive at Higher Things.

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.