December 6 – Family
Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14
God’s Gift of Family (Isaiah 7:14)
This week, we have seen how the family of Jesus was planned by God from the beginning. Generation after generation led to the Messiah as God fulfilled His promise from thousands of years before.
Joseph and Mary were hand selected to be the earthly parents of the Son of God. Zechariah and Elizabeth would be relatives who would give birth to the prophesied forerunner of the Messiah. Elizabeth and Mary would be pregnant at the same time, cousins who could rely on each other and support one another.
God designed the family of Jesus
Way back in the book of Isaiah, it was foretold that the miracle of the Messiah would be born to a virgin.
Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14
Jesus was born according to God’s perfect design. That perfect design meant that Joseph experienced social ostracism and disrespect because of Mary’s perceived betrayal. That perfect design meant that Mary would be uncomfortable during a cross-country journey while nine months pregnant. That perfect design meant that Joseph and Mary were frantic with worry when they couldn’t find the twelve-year-old Jesus. They would endure the heartbreaking pain of Jesus’ trial and execution.
Perfect Design does NOT equal a Perfect Life
You see, just because you are right in the middle of God’s perfect design and His will for your life does not mean that your life will be pain-free. We can be completely on target for what God has designed for us, and still experience pain, loss, fear, and grief. We experience them, but they do not consume us.
God keeps His Promises
We are not consumed because God is merciful and faithful. He is there for us every morning to help us start a new day.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
God is faithful. Period. He will not ever leave us alone to bear the pains of life. He goes with us.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
A Fulfiller of Promises
We can trust God to fulfill His promises and this week’s devotionals illustrated that fact. We saw the promises of Old Testament prophecies fulfilled through God-designed families.
Your family
You are a part of a family too. A son or daughter. A cousin, spouse, mother, father, grandmother, grandfather. Even if you are an unmarried orphan, when you accepted God’s gift of salvation through Jesus, you became a part of the family of God.
God has designed a family for you. A family that can fulfill God’s purposes for the world. To bring light to the darkness.
Pain and Problems
There may be pain and problems. This year, this month, or even today may be miserably painful, but God has not left you. He never will. He is always with you.
December 6 Devotional Action Step:
If there is conflict or pain in your family, it does not mean that God has abandoned you or that you are out of God’s will for you life. However, it is always good for us to pray and reflect to make sure that we are not doing something unBiblical that stirs up contention.
If we are, we need to ask forgiveness and work to mend the relationship.
If we are not, we need to remind ourselves that God has not left us and lean into His faithfulness to get through the tough times.
God keeps His promises. He is faithful.
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you that you will never leave us. Thank you for your faithfulness that is new every morning. Help me to depend on you when I am filled with sadness, pain, or fear. Turn my mourning into joy. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Access to the other posts in this series and the free printables for this December can be found at the Series Overview page. Come join me as I pursue the peace and joy on the Savior’s birth throughout the month of December!