Ask the Lord your God for a sign, Ahaz; let it be massive—as deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz arrogantly responded, “No thanks, who am I to test the Lord?”
With redemptive-irritation, Isaiah responds: “Really? You’ll weary men, but just as easily you dare to weary God also? Okay then, God WILL give a sign, but as an utter rebuke to your pig-headedness—a sign that will change everything in the cosmos and all of history. A virgin will conceive and have a son named Immanuel—which means, God is with and for his people.” (Paraphrase of Isaiah 7:11-14)
Heavenly Father, the Christmas season highlights—with neon blinking lights, your measureless mercy and mind-blowing generosity. But it also highlights the insanity of sin and 100% insufficiency of self-sufficiency. The promise of Immanuel came to one of Israel’s worse kings—Ahaz. Pretending to be humble, he “passed” on being a part of your eternal plan to send Jesus as the promised Messiah.
We throw no rocks this morning. We too have “passed” on your grace for us in Jesus much of our lives—not just in coming to faith, but in the life of faith. More stubborn than mules, more unbelieving than demons (James 2:19), smitten with pride and self-sufficiency, we have a hard time accepting that you are alwaysputting us in situations so we “won’t rely on ourselves but on the God who raises the dead” (2Cor.1:9).
Our need is far worse than we want to own, and your provision for us in Jesus is 10,000 times greater than we realize. Unlike Ahaz, we won’t pretend on this December 8, 2025. We own our need, and we will gladly receive everything you have for us in Jesus. In our relationships, health, hard stories, and multi-faceted brokenness, we abandon ourselves to the eternally God, virgin born Immanuel—Jesus himself. So VeryAmen.