DEVOTION Isaiah 7:10-14
10 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] a sign: The virgin[b] will conceive and give birth to a son, and[c] will call him Immanuel.
Ahaz was being self righteous. He sounded good. "I will not put the Lord to the test" sounds like a good response, but when God tells you to do something, you do it. You don't try to sound right… God can see right through that.
The "sign" was and is a wonderful thing, but sometimes we miss it, because we, like Ahaz, are too self righteous, too full of ourselves, and too self centered to see it. We miss out on such a wonderful thing as God's grace and peace, because we are too busy trying to be right, trying to be the best we can be, trying to impress God and others, instead of just resting in His grace.
Take this lesson from Ahaz. When Jesus says "Come to me, all you who are labor and burdened and I will give you rest", don't say "Hold on Jesus, first let me prove to you that I am worthy." Or, "That's Ok Jesus, I got this."
Say, "Thank you Jesus! I am a poor miserable sinner and I can't save myself." Thank you Jesus for your rest!"
Just do what the Lord says! Surrender and go to Jesus! Give up the fight. Give up the bitterness. Give up the anger and resentment. Give up the struggle. The struggle may be real, but it ain't worth fighting. This Christmas, do what God says, REST in Him.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your "sign". Thank you that you have given Him to me, even when I don't deserve it. Thank you for bringing me back to life and giving me your Spirit. THANK YOU! Amen.
____________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR
Tues- Quilting 9-2
Wed- SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM 5pm; Bell Choir practice 6pm; Choir practice 7pm
Thurs- Karate 5:15-7:30
Fri- Assemble Newsletter
Sat- Christmas Eve Worship 7pm
Sun- Christmas Day Worship 10am
__________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:
Acolyte- Eve- Nova Luebke Day- Kalene Masters
Ushers- Eve- Dave Winter, Gary Scott, Larry Schulze, Scott Schulze; Day- Allan Dreyer, Lew Feldkamp, Kent Jacobsmeyer, Paul Klovver
Altar- Set up- Terry McKenzie; Clean Up- Lynn Russell and Elaine Schauer
Elders- Eve- Jason Cluver Day- Jim Rahn
Greeters- None
Lay Readers- None
Piano- None
Organist- Rachel Fisher Eve and Day
Projectionists: Eve- Mauch; Day- McKenzie
________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: