To Us A Child Is Born…
Opening Prayer
Lord God, Father Son, and Holy Spirit, on this important day I approach You with wonder, repentance and joy.
Read ISAIAH 9:1–7
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
Welcome, all wonders in one sight!
Eternity shut in a span;
Summer in winter; day in night; Heaven in earth, and God in man.
Great little one, whose all-embracing birth
Lifts earth to heaven, stoops heaven to earth
(Richard Crashaw, 1613–1649).
Think Further
However many Christmases I have seen come and go, I pause after reading this wonderful passage, at what the enthusiasm of Almighty God (7) has brought about for the world and for me! Looking at the geography of verse 1, I draw a circle of 2,500 miles radius and pray for all those living within this circle, an area which is being gradually denuded of Christians. Perhaps in the countries where I read these notes, “increase of… government” (7) reads to some like a red rag to a bull. I pray for people in those countries where (any good) government and peace and justice and righteousness sound like heaven on earth. What am I doing to help bring this about?
My meditation settles on today’s wonderful Child, the reason for the season, whose preaching of God’s kingdom in Galilee was introduced by words from this very chapter (Matt. 4:12–17):
Lord Jesus, Light of the World, I praise You for the brightness of Your rising.
Lord Jesus, Miraculous Counsellor, I yield to You all my confusion and distractedness.
Lord Jesus, Mighty God, I let my fears and anxieties drain away as I remember You are great and good.
Lord Jesus, Everlasting Father, Maker of Mary, Father of Your mother and of me, I thank You that You will love me forever.
Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, amid the turmoil of the world, I pray for the coming of Your everlasting kingdom.
Apply
Look again at verse 6. There are the four great names assigned to the Messiah. How does Jesus fulfill these designations?
Closing prayer
Mighty God, I worship and praise You for sending Jesus, Your Son and my Savior. I look forward to when he will return in might and power (7).
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