Bible League: Living His Word "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."— Isaiah 7:14 NIV There are things that happen in our world that just seem downright impossible. A mammal that lays eggs? Sounds impossible! A cloud holds 551 tons of water and yet floats above the earth? That's Impossible! The Chicago Cubs win a World Series? IMPOSSIBLE! Approximately 740 years before the Messiah was born, the prophet Isaiah foretold His coming. Sounds impossible, right? That's not even the most difficult thing to believe about the Christmas story. Isaiah said that the Messiah would be born of a virgin! How is that even remotely possible? As the angel told Jesus' mother, Mary in Luke 1:37 (ERV), "God can do anything!" It's true, you know. God can do ANYTHING! There is nothing that is impossible for God. Maybe you're struggling with fear this Christmas season. You may wonder, "Will God really provide for my needs?" Perhaps you're dealing with doubts about God's love for you. "Does God really love me?" It could be that your past fills you with guilt and shame. "Can God really forgive me after what I've done?" Friend, God can do anything. If you seek Him first, He has promised to provide everything you need. He loves you with an unlimited, unending, and unconditional love. He has forgiven you completely and wiped the slate clean. You are justified freely by His grace through faith in His Son Jesus. Whatever fears, doubts, anxiety, worry, shame, or guilt you're facing this Christmas, know that God can do anything. There's nothing that is impossible for God. The name "Immanuel" literally means "God with us." If God is with us, then nothing that comes against us can prevail. The story of the prophet Isaiah and Mary, the mother of Jesus, intersected in a manger in Bethlehem. Something that seemed so impossible became reality. Your impossible can become reality, too. All you must do is believe in the One who can do anything. By Shawn Cornett, Bible League International staff, Illinois U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingHosea 1-4 Hosea 1 -- Hosea Takes Gomer as Wife to Show Israel's Unfaithfulness NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Hosea 2 -- Israel's Unfaithfulness Condemned; Reconciliation Promised NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Hosea 3 -- Hosea Redeems His Wife to Show the Lord's Reconciliation to Israel NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Hosea 4 -- God Pronounces Judgments for Israel's Sins NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Jude Jude 1 -- Warnings to the Ungodly; Call to Persevere and Grow in Grace NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.Insight If you have ever seen the constant rolling of huge waves at sea, you know how restless they are—subject to the forces of wind, gravity, and tide. Doubt leaves a person as unsettled as the restless waves. Challenge If you want to stop being tossed about, rely on God to show you what is best for you. Ask him for wisdom, and trust that he will give it to you. Then your decisions will be sure and solid. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Isaiah 30:18 Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious unto you.God often delays in answering prayer. We have several instances of this in sacred Scripture. Jacob did not get the blessing from the angel until near the dawn of day--he had to wrestle all night for it. The poor woman of Syrophenicia was answered not a word for a long while. Paul besought the Lord thrice that "the thorn in the flesh" might be taken from him, and he received no assurance that it should be taken away, but instead thereof a promise that God's grace should be sufficient for him. If thou hast been knocking at the gate of mercy, and hast received no answer, shall I tell thee why the mighty Maker hath not opened the door and let thee in? Our Father has reasons peculiar to himself for thus keeping us waiting. Sometimes it is to show his power and his sovereignty, that men may know that Jehovah has a right to give or to withhold. More frequently the delay is for our profit. Thou art perhaps kept waiting in order that thy desires may be more fervent. God knows that delay will quicken and increase desire, and that if he keeps thee waiting thou wilt see thy necessity more clearly, and wilt seek more earnestly; and that thou wilt prize the mercy all the more for its long tarrying. There may also be something wrong in thee which has need to be removed, before the joy of the Lord is given. Perhaps thy views of the Gospel plan are confused, or thou mayest be placing some little reliance on thyself, instead of trusting simply and entirely to the Lord Jesus. Or, God makes thee tarry awhile that he may the more fully display the riches of his grace to thee at last. Thy prayers are all filed in heaven, and if not immediately answered they are certainly not forgotten, but in a little while shall be fulfilled to thy delight and satisfaction. Let not despair make thee silent, but continue instant in earnest supplication. Daily Light on the Daily Path Proverbs 21:3 To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice.Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? 1 Samuel 15:22 Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. Matthew 12:33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. Hosea 12:6 Therefore, return to your God, Observe kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually. Luke 10:39,42 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. • but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Philippians 2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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