Longing for Love

December 21, 2025

From King Ahaz to Advent, Scripture tells one unified story: when fear rises, will we trust ourselves… or Emmanuel, God with us?

In this message from Isaiah 7, we explore how individual biblical texts only make sense when read within the whole story of Scripture. Using the example of King Ahaz—who refused to trust God and chose political power instead—we see a pattern that echoes throughout the Bible and into our own lives.

God’s promise to Ahaz, “Do not be afraid,” becomes a lens for understanding the entire biblical narrative: humanity was created to live in loving trust with God, but repeatedly chooses self-reliance over faith. From creation, through Israel’s failures, and ultimately to the coming of Jesus, God continually moves toward His people.

Advent marks the turning point. When humanity could not come back to God, God came to us—Emmanuel, God with us. In Jesus Christ, God fulfills the covenant we could not keep, restores trust, and invites us once again into faithful relationship. This sermon challenges us to ask: Where do we really place our trust—and are we willing to trust God completely?