It’s Christmas time, when the most beautiful story of all was told. The story of a baby in a manger. A baby to change the world. The prince of peace!
The greatest gift ever given:
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.
Isaiah 9:6
Wonderful Counselor
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. – Psalms 16:7
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” – Isaiah 30:21
(Biblically this is God’s counsel to the people of Jerusalem who were straying from the path, yet today he gives these same nudges and when we hear his voice of correction, we must be willing to follow it.)
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
John 15: 7
Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor His instructions are the “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth” (Thank you to the 90’s band Burlap to Cashmere) to pointing out where to find the answers.
Mighty God
God is Mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose – Job 36:5
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. – 1Peter 5:6-7
For the Mighty One has done great things for me and holy is his name. – Luke 1:49
That last verse sound familiar? It can be found in the LSB Magnificat (Located within Evening Prayer.) Taken Straight from Mary’s Song in the bible aka Luke 1:46-55.
One of my favorite daily songs and a great reminder of all that our Mighty God can do!
Everlasting Father
I’m going to use John 14: 15-21 to bring a glimpse of Jesus the Everlasting Father.
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
John 14:15-21
These verses are also a beautiful glimpse of the Trinity, The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. The Three in One. The Everlasting. No song references for this portion, sit in the words above. Jesus tells us straight up: Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me… Stick with the Spirit of Truth, Keep Jesus’s Commands, and be loved by the Everlasting Father through the Son!
Prince of Peace
It is IN Christ Jesus that we have peace. I dive deeper into this in my blog prayers for peace (linked.)
Two of my favorite verses involving peace are as follows, I love them because the first reminds me that peace is not our own doing. The second reminds me that when we focus on showing more of Jesus and less of ourselves, we have a peace in our soul that is the peace of our Prince, King, Savior!
“I have told you these things, so that IN me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen IN me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:8-9
The Greatest Gift Ever Given!
Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem and when it came time for the baby to be born there was no room in the Inn. Therefore, Mary gave birth in a Manger.
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.
Remember this Christmas season that the King of King’s the Lord of Lord’s came into this world wrapped in cloths and placed in a manger. He was not born in the lushness of an Inn; he was not born into luxury.
The Birth of Jesus was humbling. The Death of Jesus is humbling and life altering.
If Jesus is speaking to you, if he is tugging on your heart strings, if he is calling to you, answer!
If you know Jesus spend time IN his Word, IN his presence, and IN his peace, share his light this Christmas season and always. Because He is our Greatest Gift Ever Given, and our lives are eternally changed and saved IN Christ Jesus.