Scripture Reading(s)
Isaiah 63:7-9
63:7 I will recount the gracious deeds of the LORD, the praiseworthy acts of the LORD, because of all that the LORD has done for us, and the great favor to the house of Israel that he has shown them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
63:8 For he said, “Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely”; and he became their savior
63:9 in all their distress. It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
Reflections
Indeed it was the presence of the Lord that saved the people of the earth. It was not by might or by a surrogate but by the presence of the Lord dwelling with men in the form of human flesh. In Christianity we call this event the “incarnation” which means that divinity has become flesh or dwelled in human form.
Jesus’ birth reminds us that God is patient but He never abandoned His people or the vision to bring all men and women into union with Himself. Isaiah’s words were quilled about 400 or more years before Christ was born. Many thought that the Messiah would not show up at all. Yet, when they most needed a savior He sent His very own presence down to be with them.
Do not be discouraged if you feel that God is far off. Your concerns are His concerns and your trials and His trials. When you most need the Lord and you seek Him earnestly He will be there.
God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. (Acts 17:27)
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