For this reason the sovereign master himself will give you a confirming sign. Look, this virgin is about to conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him Immanuel.
The Prophet Isaiah, Isaiah 7:14
Throughout history people have longed to see the promise of God fulfilled. God had promised that through the “seed of woman” He would rescue His creation.
Sometimes it is hard to imagine how something out of the ordinary will happen. History is not full of examples of people being born by the “seed of woman” alone. We see throughout history many examples of men and women producing children but we never see a child produced from a woman alone. Yet that was the promise of God in response to the fall of mankind.
God spoke through the prophet Isaiah to help us imagine how He would fulfill His promise. God told His people to look for a sign, the one promised so long ago would become flesh and dwell among us, we will know him because he would be born unnaturally. A virgin will give birth to a son.
Our sin was an impossible problem to solve so God responded in kind. He did the impossible to bring about the unimaginable using the improbable.
Our hope for you today is that God will do the impossible in you.
Bonus Content:
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing is playing softly in the background of this devotion. This hymn was written by Charles Wesley within the first year of his conversion. It was originally titled “A Hymn For Christmas Day.” The tune was considered too secular to accompany sacred words but Wesley redeemed the secular melody and it has become one of his most celebrated hymns. George Whitefield Changed the first line of the hymn from “Hark, how all the welkin [heavens] rings Glory to the King of Kings“ to “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” which naturally became the name of this great hymn.
As you read the words consider the scope of the lyrics. They are not only a celebration of the birth of Christ but His death and resurrection as well.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King.
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise;
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Refrain:
Hark, the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Christ by highest heav’n adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold Him come,
offspring of the virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail the incarnate Deity,
pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth. [Refrain]
Come, Desire of nations, come,
fix in us Thy humble home;
rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed,
bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Adam’s likeness now efface,
stamp Thine image in its place;
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
With much love,
The Downings
