This morning I was reading A Classic Nativity Devotional, and I paused to reflect on Isaiah 9:6-7 and John 1:14:
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the LORD Almighty will guarantee this! (Isaiah 9:6-7, NLT)And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14, KJV)
Then I had to put on a song by Anointed, The Word Was Made Flesh. It’s from the album Emmanuel – A Musical Celebration of the Life of Christ. I love this album. It features songs by many favorite Christian artists including Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Twila Paris, Sandy Patti, and Point of Grace. This particular song has a drum beat that resounds in my heart as it plays. I can play it over and over and over again.
But back to the verses above: Consider what they tells us. God came to earth as an infant for "us." For you and me and even for those who mock Him and reject Him. His government of peace has not ended for 2000 years. Imperfect believers have not managed to destroy it nor have those who hate those who believe. His government will never end. He took a bunch of imperfect men and empowered them to spread the good news. They did, and it changed the world.
When I get discouraged over the direction our nation has taken in my lifetime, when I wonder if it is possible to impact America as it slides ever deeper into immorality, when I see the atheist manifestos rise to the top of the bestseller lists, I am reminded of the godless cities of the first century world. Cities that were changed by the good news that God was made flesh and dwelt among us. Christ remains full of grace and truth. He was given to us, for us. His royal titles endure: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Thank You, Jesus. I am grateful for and amazed by Your arrival into this world so long ago, doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. I bow down and worship You, Mighty God and Prince of Peace. Amen.
May you, dear reader, know the wonder of the Word made flesh this Christmas season.
Robin
