The Virgin Shall Conceive

Week 1, Day 5 Devotional — Friday, December 5, 2025

Theme: The Virgin Shall Conceive

The virgin birth reveals God stepping into our world as Immanuel. What seems impossible to us becomes the very doorway of His saving presence.

Day’s Reading: Isaiah 7:14

Key Scriptures

• Isaiah 7:14

• Matthew 1:22–23

• Luke 1:34–35

Introduction

Isaiah spoke into a moment of national fear. King Ahaz trembled as surrounding nations threatened Judah, but God offered a sign beyond politics or war:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

The King would have wondered “What has a virgin to do with war and national crises. Centuries later, an angel appeared to Mary declaring the fulfillment of that ancient promise: “That it might be fulfilled… ‘they shall call His name Immanuel.’” (Matthew 1:22–23)

The virgin’s womb became the doorway of God’s entry into the world, expressing His saving presence.

Insight

The Hebrew word for a virgin — almah refers to a young woman of marriageable age, but the broader context and later fulfillment point to a miraculous conception. Matthew affirms this prophetic connection as the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, fulfilling God’s ancient sign (Luke 1:34–35).

J.I. Packer writes, “The incarnation is the supreme mystery of the gospel—not that God worked miracles, but that He became man.”¹ This miracle is central.

N.T. Wright explains that the virgin birth signals a new creation: God initiating redemption in a way no human effort or lineage could accomplish.² Immanuel—God with us—is God’s declaration that He has entered our world and our redemptive story.

Reflection

- This Christmas season, where in your life do you need to remember that God is truly with you?

- Do you trust God to work beyond natural limitations and human expectations?

- How does the miracle of Christ’s birth give you hope today?

Strategic Prayer Points

1. Thank God for the miracle of the incarnation—Christ entering the world to save us.

2. Pray for renewed faith to believe God for what seems impossible.

3. Intercede for those who feel abandoned, asking God to reveal Himself as Immanuel.

My Faith Confession

I believe that Jesus Christ is Immanuel, God with us. His birth is the miracle that changed the world and changed me. I trust His presence, His power, and His promises in every circumstance.

Final Prayer

Lord Jesus, Immanuel, thank You for entering our world through the miracle of the virgin birth. Let Your presence fill my life today. Where I fear, be my peace; where I doubt, be my confidence; where I am weak, be my strength. Walk with me, dwell in me, and shine through me. Amen.

Endnotes

1. J.I. Packer, Knowing God (IVP, 1973), p. 53.

2. N.T. Wright, Surprised by Scripture (HarperOne, 2014), p. 118.

3. Raymond E. Brown, The Birth of the Messiah (Doubleday, 1993), p. 148.