Isaiah 36:21 “But they were silent and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, ‘Do not answer him.’”

DON’T OPEN YOUR MOUTH

I can still hear my mom say those words to me.  “Carl William (you knew you were in trouble when the middle name was used.), I don’t want to hear one peep out of you!”  You see, I had the tendency to talk a lot.  Still do, especially in the mornings.

But there comes a time when you just need to keep your mouth shut.  This was one of those times in Judah.  The king of Assyria had invaded the land and was now at the gates of Jerusalem.  Hezekiah had told the people to not respond to their taunts and jeers.  He commanded them to not talk to the Assyrians who were outside their gates.  Why?  To keep them loyal?  Perhaps.  But it was probably to keep them focused on their true deliverer, Jehovah.

TEACHING MOMENT

I bet you have never told your children to keep quiet. Right?  Every parent, at some point, has heard enough.  They don’t want to hear a word.  We need to teach our children when it is appropriate to talk.  Talking during the worship service while others are speaking is not okay.  Talking back to adults is not okay.  But talking to our Savior…well…that is perfectly okay.

I bet the people of Jerusalem were talking to God as they saw the myriad of Assyrian soldiers outside their city gates.  Our children need to talk to God every day.  They need to be taught how to pray.  They need to know He is always listening.  They need to know that He can still defeat our enemies.  We just need to come to Him and talk to Him.

Are you talking to God today or are you keeping your mouth shut?  Are you so busy talking to others about everything that you have failed to talk to the One Who can answer.  Take a moment today to shut your mouth and listen. Let the Lord do the talking in your life.  Let Him speak to you today.

Lord, I am listening……………

Isaiah 31:1 “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord!”

TRUST NO ONE

There was a television series on in the 90’s called “The X-Files.”  I am a bit of a sci-fi geek, so I really loved this show.  Fox Mulder and Dana Scully were the main characters who tried to solve cases involving extraterrestrials (you know, ETs).  Fox’s main motto was “Trust No One.”  The problem with that, however, is no one’s got your back.

We don’t have to worry about that as believers.  God has our back.  We can completely and totally trust Him.  It doesn’t matter what we are facing, He is there.  When we are at our lowest, He’s there.  When we are fighting depression, He’s there.  When we are jubilant, He’s there.  Isaiah was trying to tell the people to not trust in other nations to defend them.  Trust Jehovah God.

TEACHING MOMENT

Trust is something that is real hard to teach our children.  Heck, it’s hard to teach anyone.  I have heard it said that trust is the glue that holds relationships together.  You trust your children until they break that trust.  You forgive them and start building that trust again.  The best way you can teach trust is by being trustworthy.

How do you do that?  One way is by keeping your promises.  When you say you are going to take them to the park, take them.  When you tell Gertrude you will be at her piano recital, be there.  When you tell Johnny you will take him fishing, take him.  This will teach them to trust you and help them learn to trust others as well.

But we must be constantly pointing them and others to trust in our Savior.  You will let them down.  God will never do that.  You will disappoint others.  God never disappoints.  Won’t you trust Him today?  Won’t you let Him prove Himself faithful.  He is not scared of being trusted. He is complete trust.

O God, You are the faithful One.  I know I can place my complete trust in You.  Show me ways to teach my children what that means so they will trust You with their lives.

Isaiah 28:16 “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.’”

THE MOST IMPORTANT

Most people have no clue about the purpose of the cornerstone of a building.  According to Wikipedia (that totally trustworthy source, lol), “the cornerstone is important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.”  Well, this time Wikipedia got it right.  I have seen a lot of cornerstones on buildings but normally fail to recognize their importance.

But this cornerstone, laid by the Lord, is the most trusted cornerstone ever laid.  The Master Mason put this stone in place as the stone upon which all will be measured.  If we are out of line with this stone, our buildings (lives) will crumble.  If we are not attached to this stone, our walls (lives) will not be plumb and stand straight.

TEACHING MOMENT

Now this is definitely a fun verse to teach our kids.  I hope you have some building blocks or tinker toys (I loved tinker toys) laying around your house.  If not, get some rocks and boards from the yard or garage.  Then plan a building with your kids.  Build the first one with a soft sponge as the cornerstone. Let them see how high they can build their tower on that sponge.  It won’t take long to watch it tumble.

Then build the same structure on a solid board or flat stone, like a paving stone or brick.  You will all be amazed at how high you can go.  You may even have to get on a chair to place to the top blocks.  What a picture for your kids to see!

More importantly, what can you show your children you are building your life upon?  Is it your job or your family or your health?  You name it.  It doesn’t matter.  Nothing will stand the test of time except the true cornerstone, Jesus Christ. He is the One we place first and build upon.

Thank You, Father, for placing Your Son down as the cornerstone for my life.  I rest assured of His steadfastness and faithfulness.  Help me show my children the importance of this firm foundation.

Isaiah 26:4 “Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.”

CAN’T BE MOVED

Don’t you just love this verse?  Our God rocks!  I mean, our God is a Rock.  Lol.  But He is, and He does.  That is just Who He is.  He is firm and unmovable.  He gives us a solid foundation on which to stand.  He gives us a place on which we can build our life without fear of it crumbling.

I live in Chattanooga,Tennessee.  One of the best things about this area is the hiking that is available.  I wish I took more advantage of the opportunities, but they are there.  There are rock outcroppings all around us.  Some are famous, like Point Park on Lookout Mountain.  Others are not so well known.  But they all have one thing in common – they have been there a long time.  Barring some huge natural disaster, they aren’t going anywhere.

TEACHING MOMENT

Parents, this is a fun verse to teach your little Gertrude or Elrod.  Find an area near you with exposed rock.  If you live somewhere that is not available, find a picture of that to show them.  Explain how the hardness of the rock gives a solid base on which to stand.  Explain how, even though it is heavy and practically impossible to move, it doesn’t compare to God.

God is that Rock that will not be moved.  There is no force in heaven or on earth that can change Who He is.  He is permanent, foundational, solid and firm.  He will always be there.  They can always depend on Him.  They can place everything they have on Him and it will not fall.  He’s got it.  He’s got them.

Are you placing your feet on The Rock?  Or are you standing in quicksand?  Do you feel your feet moving and sliding?  I don’t like that feeling.  I want to feel secure.  I want my feet to stand on solid ground.  I want The Rock beneath me.  Trust Him to be your Rock of Ages.

O Lord, You are my Rock.  You are my sure foundation.  Help me when I doubt.  Show me Your permanence and faithfulness.  Thank You, Lord.

Isaiah 24:21-22 “21 So it will happen in that day, that the Lord will punish the host of heaven on high, and the kings of the earth on earth. 22 They will be gathered together like prisoners in the dungeon, and will be confined in prison; and after many days they will be punished.”

ALL WILL BE JUDGED

 These verses are most likely referring to the judgment which was going to fall on the kings, rulers and leaders of that time.  God was not going to look the other way when those he had placed in authority had abandoned Him.  But we can also refer to these verses in reference to the end of times.  Now, I am NOT reading into the verses or taking them out of context.  I am just comparing this situation to what will happen later.

God will judge us all.  It won’t matter what position you held or what your excuse is.  God will reward the righteous and punish the wicked.  You can bank on that.  It is just so critical to understand, though, that we who walk with Christ, have nothing to fear.  Sure, we will have our good works judged before God, but our ultimate judgment has been paid for, in advance, by Christ.

TEACHING MOMENT

Our children fear judgment from us, don’t they?  Oh, I remember hearing those dreadful words from my mom, “Just wait until your father gets home.”  Man, those were dreaded words.  I would watch the clock, knowing that he would be home around 3:05 p.m. every day.  I could hear his truck coming and start to panic.

I don’t “dread” facing my heavenly Father, however. I know my debt has been paid.  It is so important that we stress that with our own children.  If they are “paid up” through Jesus, they have no fear of judgment.  They should welcome the day to see their Father in heaven.

Are you welcoming or dreading that day?  Are you walking each day with Christ as if it could be your last?  Are you following Him in order to obey Him?  The Lord God wants you to listen and obey.  He wants to bless you.

Father God, thank You for rescuing me from eternal punishment.  Thank You for sparing me the “rod” of discipline.  You are a faithful God who has promised to welcome me into Your kingdom, fully forgiven through Christ’s blood.

Isaiah 19:20-21 “20 It will become a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them. 21 Thus the Lord will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day. They will even worship with sacrifice and offering, and will make a vow to the Lord and perform it.”

IS IT THE MESSIAH?

This verse has been hotly debated.  Did it refer to Alexander the Great or another human “deliverer” who came in and rescued the people?  Or, as other scholars think, did it refer to Jesus Christ who would come and rescue all Gentiles?  No one can be absolutely sure, at least not until we get to Glory.  Right?

We do know that Jesus came to deliver all mankind.  He is the ONLY Savior worthy of recognition and praise.  He is the only one who has conquered death.  He is the only one who can truly save them.  No one else ever could or ever will.  He is the ONLY ONE.

TEACHING MOMENT

How is this taught to our children?  By showing them His saving power.  By showing them how He has delivered you.  By showing them His works in and through you and others of faith.  Little Johnnie and Susie need to see actual evidence of Christ working.  And there is plenty of evidence.  Just look around at your own family and in your own church.

How awesome would it be to invite someone who has such a “deliverance” story to dinner one night so they can tell your children personally how God intervened in their life?  Our children need to rub shoulders with these people.  They need to see and hear them tell all about the adventures they have had in Christ.

Then you can help your children begin making a journal of all the things God does or has done in your family.  Call it a blessing box and put in a slip of paper listing the blessing each time it occurs.  At the end of the year open the box and reflect on the works of your Savior.

Father, You are the Savior of the world.  Whether You are the one referred to our text today doesn’t matter.  You are still delivering mankind today.  Thank You for all You do!

Isaiah 16:5 “A throne will even be established in lovingkindness, and a judge will sit on it in faithfulness in the tent of David; moreover, he will seek justice and be prompt in righteousness.”

KINGLY WORDS

Isaiah is telling the nation that the throne of their king will be reestablished.  You have to recall that they had undergone judgment from God through which He had used pagan nations to punish them.  But now the time has come for their own king to be seated on the throne again.

What struck me in this verse, though, is the descriptive words of the throne.  It will be a throne of lovingkindness, faithfulness, justice and righteousness.  Who does that sound like to you?  That’s right, Jesus.  He is all those things, and He sits on His throne forever.

TEACHING MOMENT

Do you like role playing?  Sometimes, with kids, it helps them learn a concept.  This would be a fun verse to roleplay.  Set up a chair in the house somewhere and make a crown for Bubba to wear.  Give him a scepter (a spatula makes a great one, lol).  And then here comes the fun part.  Have his siblings or friends be the subjects.  Let him rule over them and make some “proclamations.”

Now, don’t give him any instructions on the type of laws.  Just let him “reign.”  After he gets through, read this verse and compare how he reigned and how the king in this verse reigned.  I bet you will find a vast difference.

We do the same, don’t we?  We may not sit on a throne, but we think we do.  Do we “reign” our households with lovingkindness?  Do we show our family that we are faithful to them?  How about justice and righteousness?  We can learn a lot from this throne.  How will you reign today?

Father, I am not worthy to lead, but You have chosen me to do just that.  Help me lead with these qualities today.

Isaiah 13:11 “Thus I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud and abase the haughtiness of the ruthless.”

GET READY

I know what you are thinking.  “Carl, Isaiah was talking to people way back then, not us.”  There is no doubt he was addressing his nation and the pagan nations around them, but these words apply to us, as well.  One day, God the Father is going to send His Son Jesus back.  Only this time He won’t come back as a baby in a manger. He will come back to rule and to reign.  All knees will bow.

Heavy stuff, right?  Yep!  But it’s stuff that has to be understood.  We have an obligation to the lost to warn them. We have a responsibility to share the message of salvation to as many as we can before He returns.  Aren’t you concerned?  Aren’t you burdened for your lost friends and family?

TEACHING MOMENT

There really is no need to “scare” your children with the impending doom of God’s judgment on the earth.  But we do have to be upfront and share with them the importance of His return and their need to be prepared.  The urgency of the times demands it.  As I have written about many times in this devotional, explain to little Johnny and Susie about the Lord coming to take all of us, who are believers, home one day.

They need to understand, though, that not everyone will go.  Only those who have accepted Christ Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior will enter heaven.  That will undoubtedly burden them to share with everyone.  I have seen children approach total strangers and witness to them with absolutely no fear.  We need to be as bold.

What are you doing about preparing your family for His return?  Are you busy sharing with others?  Are you teaching your children about the joys of heaven?  There are so many things to teach.  We need to get excited.  He’s coming back!  And soon!

Lord Jesus, we anxiously await Your return.  Thank You for promising to come back and take us all home.  I know where I am going.  Help me to bring as many as I can with me.

Isaiah 10:12 “So it will be that when the Lord has completed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, He will say, ‘I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the pomp of his haughtiness.’”

HAUGHTY SPIRIT

This is the time of the year when I can get too big for my britches, but it has nothing to do with haughtiness. It has to do with too many Christmas parties.  Lol.  But boy, I just love those desserts.

Seriously, Isaiah is telling the nation that God has not forgotten about Assyria.  His instrument of judgment has become proud.  The king thinks he has done all of this on his strength alone.  God is about to show him who is boss.

Listen close.  We are EXACTLY the same.  We think when we have a little success that we have achieved something. We think our works really matter.  We are only prosperous and successful because of HIM. There is nothing that we can do on our own.  Even the wicked among us are only successful because the Lord allows it.  Why He does I don’t understand, but He is God and that’s His business.

TEACHING MOMENT

How do we teach our children this key life principle?  How do we show them the importance of giving all credit to God?  They have to hear us doing it, first of all.  Then we have to point it out to them each and every time they have a victory.

The next time your little Rebekah or Bubba brings home an “A” on that test, take a moment and thank the Lord for the abilities God has given them to study and learn their school work.  The next time Gertrude gets that trophy in gymnastics give God praise for giving her the athletic ability to do all those jumps and twists.  You get the picture.

What has God blessed you with that you have acknowledged Him for?  What achievement in your life has been accomplished for which you took all the credit.  Confess that as haughtiness.  Confess that as sin.  Give God all the praise for working in and through you.

O Lord, I know that all I am is because of You.  But Lord, remind me to point others to You when they congratulate me. Remind me to give You all the praise.

Isaiah 7:14 “‘Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.’” 

GOD IS WITH US

Naming a child is such an important thing.  Of course, today the gender reveal party has taken over as the number one thing.  It seems the name of the baby has taken second place to revealing the gender.  But here in Isaiah, the Lord gave the name – Immanuel – God with us.  What a perfect verse for this season of the year.

God IS with us – every day of the year.  Why is it we seem to only use this name of Jesus at Christmas.  We don’t hear Immanuel mentioned much the rest of the year.  Ironically, we act like the world most of the year.  We don’t live as if God is with us.  We don’t treat others like God is with us.  We don’t talk like God is with us.

TEACHING MOMENT

Our children need to know that God is with us.  They need to be able to feel secure that no matter what may come into their lives – God is with them.  As believers in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, there will never be a time when God is not with them.  He indwells them through His Holy Spirit.  They cannot escape His presence.

This is so important for them to understand as they leave home.  When Johnny or Susie head out your door on their own (okay, grab the tissues, lol) you can rest assured that God is with them.  They may make some decisions that are not very godly, but God is still with them.  They may go some places you wouldn’t go, but God is still with them.  Immanuel is in them.  They can’t run away from Him.

Do you get the theme for today?  God is with us.  As you enter this Christmas season, remember to tell your family every day that God is with them.  Remind them that His holy presence is among them.  Then Christmas will take on a fresh new meaning.

Thank You Lord, for sending Immanuel to live, not only on earth, but also in me.  His presence in my life through the power of the Holy Spirit gives me the strength to live each new day.