December 6: Isaiah 9:2-7

Key Verse: Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Devotion:
How many times a day do we hear news about another official somewhere making false promises or going back on what they said beforehand? How many times do we attribute that to power hungry lust, greed and lies? It is unfortunate we live in a world where we see a lot of this happening and we accept it as if it is normal.

The governments around the world make all manner of promises and get caught up in scandals from which they have no escape but to lie, beg, borrow or steal from others so they can get their own way. We see corruption on a scale we have not seen in the past. We see presidents and prime ministers doing things they ought not to… the list goes on.

We can be assured Jesus will not be like that when He returns; instead He will bring truth and justice like we have not seen before. All those who have taken their own way instead of the truth God has shown us will have nothing other than the earthly riches they have gained – even them some of them will lose more than they bargained for.

What we will see is a Lord who comes to set things right and to allow us to joyfully rejoice before God. Nations, kingdoms and alternative powers will all crumble as Jesus takes control. This is that same baby who was born a couple of thousand years ago who the powers crucified because they wanted their own ways instead. I can’t wait!

Points to Ponder:
Do you want to see peace in all the world?

How many people have you shared Christ with?

December 5: Isaiah 11:1-5

Key Verse: Isaiah 11:1
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

Devotion:
Do you have a hard time trying to convince people God exists or how they should believe and trust in Jesus? Well, maybe you are going about things the wrong way round… Jesus did not come and start shouting out the gospel trying to get people to listen to Him. He came to first belong with the people as a human Himself. Then He did righteous acts to persuade the people there was a different way of existing.

Then, and only then, did He perform miracles and tell people about God. He came to be amongst us and to live with us so we would not feel threatened or disbelieve incredulous stories. He came and showed people a different way of living and showed them they too can choose to live differently; a way which encompassed having God at the very core of life!

When Jesus showed compassion, it was for the people who needed it in their lives. He did not ignore people because they had not dressed up or gave enough money, He chose people because He knew they needed God in their lives, people who would be willing to listen in the end.

He did not judge people by the way they looked or talked. He judged people with absolute righteousness given to Him by The Father. When we listen to God we will be surprised at the people we get to sit at the table with and we will be further surprised at how He can change their hearts… not us...

Points to Ponder:
Have you tried to tell people about God?

Did you start by simply belonging with them?

December 4: Isaiah 2:6-9

Key Verse: Isaiah 2:6
You, Lord, have abandoned your people, the descendants of Jacob. They are full of superstitions from the East; they practise divination like the Philistines and embrace pagan customs.

Devotion:
This is what Isaiah saw as visions and words from God. He knew there would be a division between people where few would call others to worship God and many would succumb to the ways of the world. They describe people abandoning everything they once stood for so they can follow after money and other riches instead; the very things God warned them about years beforehand.

God know we give in to the temptations of the world very easily because we lack the riches of the world. What is being described here is the love for money instead of for God, the love for superstitions instead of the laws of God, and the ways of the strangers instead of the ways of God.

The more we get entrapped in the ways of the world, the more we lust after them and the less we an focus on God because our hearts and minds have been taken over by these things, temptations and greed which surround us.

Isaiah does not want God to forgive and forget the sins of the people – why should he have to work so hard and sacrifice so much only to see those who do not care living the lives they seek. But it is not our choice as to whether God will forgive them or not – that is Christ’s choice alone because He came to give His life instead of us having to face the price for our sins.

Points to Ponder:
Do you just go with the flow and follow what others are doing?

Or do you try to live a separate life with Christ?