Tag: Immanuel

Posted in Advent devotions

Doing good things and God things

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Ryno Marais on Unsplash

In Matthew’s account of Jesus’s birth, Joseph believes he is doing the right thing. When Mary was found to be with child, he didn’t want to shame her, so he resolved to divorce her quietly (Matthew 1:19). While it was the right thing to do according to the law of Moses, it wasn’t God had in mind for Joseph.

Like another Joseph from long ago, this Joseph has a dream in which an angel of the Lord tells him to take Mary as his wife. Her son was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and he would save his people from their sins, just as the prophet Isaiah had said.

Joseph’s life turned out completely different than anything he could have imagined. The family would have to take a trip to Egypt to save Jesus’s life when Herod slaughtered the children in Bethlehem. He would raise God’s son in Nazareth as his own.

Joseph taught carpentry to the one who laid the foundations of the earth. Joseph worshiped alongside the one who would be worshiped by every nation, tribe, peoples, and language.

What a privilege to work and worship alongside the Lord. Since he is Immanuel – God with us – we get to do that too. This truth adds perspective to every task and prayer we offer up!

Of course Joseph gets an ornament on the Jesse Tree. He’s “of the house and lineage of David” (Luke 2:4) and served as a faithful father to Jesus.

Posted in advent, Advent devotions, Devotions

2020 Advent devotion: A virgin shall conceive

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Live and in person” Advent devotion for December 7, 2020. Read Isaiah 7:14 and Psalm 2.

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

These words from the Lord came to Ahaz, one of the kings of Judah, more than seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ. To describe him as a king who did not do “what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God” is an understatement. King Ahaz pursued an alliance with Assyria, the foreign power that destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel. He practiced and promoted idol worship by sacrificing his own son and constructing a pagan altar in the temple!

The Lord had told Ahaz he could pick any sign he wanted as an assurance that God would faithfully defend his people from their enemies. Ahaz wouldn’t choose one. So the Lord gave him this well-known Christmas promise. The birth of a child would be the sign of God’s presence and involvement in the lives of His people.

If God gave you carte blanche to ask for any sign you wanted from Him, what would you choose? I’ve talked with many people who wish God would give them a sign. So I’ll ask, “Like what? What kind of a sign would you like?” The typical answer is, “Oh, I don’t know. Something big, spectacular and in-your-face.” I’m not sure what I would ask for. Anyway, how could I really be sure that a particular sign came from God?

Did anyone else ever ask for a sign? Gideon, one of the judges. But his sign was kind of weird. All he asked for was a dry rag out in a dewy field. Yawn. Hezekiah asked for the sun to move backwards in the sky. Nice. But a day or two later, you might ask yourself, “Did I really see that?” What about a virgin birth? Three-star, for sure. But those who heard about it assumed it was a scandal rather than a miracle.

But you know what? It is a sign that God cares when He shows up. After all Immanuel means “God with us.” What better way to show the world that He is real, He cares, and you don’t have to do this alone? Texts are nice. Cards are nice. But when you show up to share the moment, the celebration or the tears, it means a whole lot more.

When Jesus was born and grew up and started preaching, some asked Him for a sign. “Give us a sign so we know you’re the real deal.” Jesus didn’t bite. He was the sign, live and in person!

Thank you, Lord, for such a great sign! Your presence as a baby, a miracle worker and my Savior means everything to me. Amen.