Thank you to Pat for this week’s MWB
He chooses us!
We’ve seen through these reflections that God had everything planned to bring salvation to the world through Jesus the Mesiah, prophecies, promises, places and people.
Let’s read Isaiah 7: 10 – 14
Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test.” 13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.”
We began our series thinking about the signs God had prepared to give hope to his people as they waited and prepared for the coming of Gods anointed one. Here God tells Ahaz to ask for a sign, but Ahaz will not, but God tells him anyway! Declaring that a virgin will conceive and give birth to a son – His name, Immanuel – God with us! The baby to be born was the sign, the sign from God to tell the world he’d made that he loved it and wanted to save it,( John 3: 16). This amazing baby, the long-awaited Mesiah, was having no ordinary birth but rather a miraculous virgin birth, conceived by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. Although ‘the virgin’ is not named here in Isaiah 7 we know from the gospel birth narratives that Mary was chosen to play this important part in God’s plan. We can look to Luke 1: 26 – 38 and see the fulfilment of this prophecy. Mary had found favour with God and was visited by an angel to announce what was going to take place. Mary was daunted by the visit but was reassured by the angel and gave her answer – ‘I will’, standing in contrast to Ahaz’s reply ‘I will not!’
God cannot ask us to play the same role as Mary, but he does choose each one of us for a specific purpose, to love and trust him and to respond to him with a ‘yes’ to follow and be obedient, whatever the request.
So, in this advent season and as Christmas fast approaches ask yourself;
Have there been signs that God is requiring you to say yes to something? Yes, to doing a new thing or to play a different role in his plan? Or do you feel that you need to ask God to give you a sign, to confirm his call on your life? Or perhaps you feel a prompting to step out for God in boldness. If so, will you echo Mary’s reply to the great ask of God, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said”, knowing that God is with you and that “nothing is impossible with God.”? Luke 1: 37 – 38.
Let’s finish with Marys words in the magnificent Luke 1: 46 – 49
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.”
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your faithfulness throughout this year and we trust in you to continue to guide us into new things with you in 2025. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and bless us so that we can glorify you in all we do and say as we serve and worship you. Help us to be bold and humble as you choose each one of us to step out in faith to fulfil your plan for us, our families and our world. Amen