by Dona Hake
Merry Christmas everyone! Joy to the world, the Lord has come!!! Let Earth receive her King! We have been focusing on the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ these past few days. What a glorious day it must have been as the prophecy was fulfilled, and Hope was found laying in a manger! The shepherds sought Him out by the great star, and the wise men continued in their journey to see Him as well.
The Prophet Isaiah spoke these words in the book of Isaiah:
Isaiah 9:6 (CEV)
“A child has been born for us.
We have been given a son
who will be our ruler.
His names will be
Wonderful Advisor
and Mighty God,
Eternal Father
and Prince of Peace.”
I wanted to share the Expanded Bible Version of the first portion of this scripture:
Isaiah 9:6 (EXB)
A child ·has been [or will be;
the prophet views the future as though it had already happened] born to us;
Isaiah spoke it and viewed it as it had already happened. These words brought hope, and it caused men to watch and wait for this blessed day to arrive. When Jesus was born, He brought the blessed hope that the world was yearning for. Light was birthed into darkness, and God and sinner could now be reconciled.
I would encourage you to keep the following thought in your heart, and you would pray about it. There are those around you that still have not received Him as their King. In the darkness of this world, man still seeks to be king of his own life. He looks to his own knowledge, and sadly there are those that proclaim that they do not need God for their help.
Lord, as we celebrate the joy that You have brought to our hearts, let us never forget the time that we thought we could live without You. We were blinded and walked in darkness. We ask that You keep us mindful that there are those that understand their world is dark, and they really are looking for answers. Make ways and divine opportunities that we can bring words of hope and life to those that are ready to receive you as their King. May it be done, in Jesus Name!