The readings for tomorrow (today, I'm up pretty late tonight) include a reading from Isaiah that foretells the birth of Jesus.

I just read that passage and what stuck out to me was this:

Is it not enough for you to weary people,
must you also weary my God?

Isaiah is exasperated. You annoy, hurt, anger, test, etc. humans. But that's not enough. It's not enough to sin against humans. You want to do all these things to God as well. 

And the response to this is not, "Stop complaining and listen to the commandments. See? Ahaz wouldn't test God and neither shall you."

The response is one of mercy and love. You shall receive a sign. The virgin shall conceive and bear a son. 

At first glance, that passage above sounds like Isaiah throwing up his hands in disgust, and I don't know, maybe he was. 

But God doesn't just throw up his hands in disgust and despair over us. He sees all of our sinful desires. He sees us railing against him. But he also sees us. He recognizes our enslavement and he has pity on us. Must you also hurt me? he asks. And the answer is yes. Our salvation requires his sacrifice, so he hands himself over to us. 

I had an idea just now about sin and justice and the role of the crucifixion in all that, but it doesn't make much sense anymore so I'll just leave off here. Sorry this is so disjointed. 

I'm praying for you!

:)