2018 Christmas Devotional and Video— December 16

Isaiah 35:1-10 (click to view Scripture below)

The promise of our Scripture reading today is a joy-filled portrayal of what happens when the promise of God is fulfilled. This is not some dreamy thought or an exercise in imagining how life could be better. What is described in this passage outlines the tangible impact of God’s promises being fulfilled.

This season is not merely about thinking good thoughts and by doing so making life better. No, this season is filled with joy because of the simple fact that the Christ, the promise of God fulfilled, brings the reality of a transformed life. That impact is tangible in very specific areas like healing of our body (vs. 3, 5-6) peace of mind (vs. 4, 10) and a reward for righteous living. (vs. 8) Obstacles that seem to overwhelm us are removed by the coming of Jesus who makes a way where there seems to be no way. (vs. 8, 10)

One result of the joy that fills this season should be the growing confidence we have in the Lord and the patience with which we face the challenges of our everyday lives. Because we know that the coming of Jesus, the Christ, results in specific and tangible impact in our lives, we can watch with hope and expectation that our current dilemmas are not permanent. The coming of Jesus changes the equation of life and brings newness out of the mundane and strength out of weakness. We begin to see solutions to problems that previously seemed overwhelming and without any potential answers.

The simple truth of Christmas is that Emmanuel, God with us, has come and with His coming can reshape twisted lives, resolve broken situations and transform impossible challenges facing us.

We invite you to watch the short video below featuring a beautiful story of healing and hope related to today’s devotional.

[ Merry Christmas from ChildHope! from ChildHope (Formerly LACC) on Vimeo. ]
Byron Klaus
Vice President, ChildHope
Prayer: Forgive us, O Lord, when we focus on the messiness and darkness of our life experiences and refuse to realize that the coming of Jesus, the Christ, literally changes everything. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear all the good you want to reveal. Make our hearts willing to receive the Good News that this season announces.     

See other devotionals in this series.


Isaiah 35:1-10 (ESV)

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
it shall blossom abundantly
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God.

Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who have an anxious heart,
“Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you.”

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

And a highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it.
It shall belong to those who walk on the way;
even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.
No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain gladness and joy,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

See other devotionals in this series.

 

Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.