Scripture:
Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV
[6] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [7] Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Observation:
To be honest, I was worried about diving into the books of the prophets because some of it can be very difficult to understand, and the last thing I want to do is lead someone to believe something that is not right. This morning, as I was reading. The Holy Spirit was just pouring into me. There were so many places I wanted to stop and write a SOAP on. It took a lot to settle here. The reason I did is clear. We need hope. It’s one of the only things that stand against fear. So here we go. Isaiah is an amazing prophet of GOD. The things he spoke about could not have been revealed by any man on earth. They had to come from the father. Over and over again, he speaks of the coming Messiah. He speaks of the virgins birth and the coming king. He did this so many years before it happened that there was no way possible for him to know. What an amazing moment in HISstoy. Emmanuel GOD with us. Jesus is king. HIS government will not stop Donald Trump and Joe Biden they have a short number of years to affect the nation, but Jesus Christ will be our king forever. Now, let’s get into HIS named… man, there is so much in this scripture. I could write for days and not come to an end. HE is a counselor, a king who rules in peace, HE is GOD the FATHER in flesh form. I’m honestly overwhelmed by that statement alone. I am so overwhelmed that I have tears flowing as I write.
Application:
I had to switch gears, listen, and we serve a GOD that loves us so much that HE stepped out of the glory of heaven. To walk the earth and counsel us on how to live. To rule with grace and mercy. To love the unlovable. Oh man, I could preach right now. Our heavenly FATHER stepped out of glory to die on a cross so that we could have a relationship with HIM. HE died for you to show how much HE truly loves you. Who else would do that, but someone who loves you in such a way that no one could ever really explain it properly. No greater love has one that HE would lay down HIS life for HIS brother. Think about this statement. Not only did HE die for you, but HE calls you HIS brother. HIS love honestly runs so deep that I will never be able to express it with words. Yet, while we were still sinners, HE died for us. It just gets deeper and deeper.
Prayer:
Father, all I can ask is who am I? Who are we? Even though at times we rejected you and held the nails that pierced your hands and feet, you laid there and took what we had coming. I have no explanation for this kind of love. When we were your enemy, you laid down your life… for us… and even deeper yet… for me. I honestly have no way to express my gratitude. My only attempt is to be the hand that my sin had pierced and the feet that my sin nailed to a disgraceful cross you died a death I deserved so that I could have a life that I don’t deserve. Please, Father, let me be your hands and feet. Let my life reflect the fact that you live within me. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.