Advent
December 6, 2022
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 7:10-16
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.
The challenge is how we discern what is evil and what is good. Evil works very hard at looking harmless, looking preferable. We as a people seem to spend a lot more time judging others for the evil we see in them than removing the log from our own eyes. (See Matthew 7:5) In most instances, what we perceive as evil in others is a sign they may need or love, not our condemnation. ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ ( See John 8:7) We might want to read (or read again) C. S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters when we find ourselves judging others’ sins rather than examining ourselves for getting caught up in the evil of self-righteousness.
A mighty Fortress is our God,
A Bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth His Name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle*.
Prayer: Lord, guide us as we struggle through life’s temptations and grant us the will to walk well with others who struggle too. Amen.
*First and second verses of the hymn A Mighty Fortress is Our God by Martin Luther see at https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/886
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.