Isaiah 9: 6 – 7 NLT
6 For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen!
In 2023/24, we need to hear this. “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.” Today, you may be with family and really enjoying your time together. Or, you may be feeling lonely because the usual family traditions have disappeared for some reason. Or, once again, your family or you are sick.
But, Jesus has come!
He is a Wonderful Counselor. We sure need him right now. We need his counsel and the assurance that he is with us right now.
“But God is my helper. The Lord keeps me alive!” (Psalm 54: 4)
Jesus is Mighty God; he is part of the Trinity. He has power and he controls what is happening in this world.
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3: 20)
Jesus is Everlasting Father. He cares for you deeply like a father loves his child.
“ So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8: 15)
(“Abba” in the Aramaic language means father in a very personal close relationship)
Jesus is Prince of Peace. He brings peace to each one of us in difficult times.
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the holy Spirit. … And now may God, who gives us his peace, be with you all. Amen”.
Romans 15: 13 and 33)
Our song for today is He Shall Reign Forevermore by Chris Tomlin