Day 22 Advent Devotional | December 25th
Isaiah 2:6-7
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.
Christmas is the announcement to all that God would not leave the world to its own devices. Christmas is the fulfillment of a promise that spans throughout the historical world. Christmas is a reminder of our utter dependence on God for every good and perfect gift that comes from Him. His name is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace, because there is no other like Him. A child is born, a son is given, the world will never be the same!
Not only is none like Him, but what He wants to do in us is unlike anything else. Isaiah the prophet says the administration or the working out of His plan and work all rests on His shoulders. He does all the heavy lifting for us. We bring nothing to the working of His grace but our repentant hearts. William Temple, who was the archbishop of Canterbury around the turn of the 20th century said it best when he wrote, “I can contribute nothing to my own salvation, except the sin from which I need to be redeemed.” Amen!
This Christmas, maybe we need to be reminded of this foundational and important truth. We can not derail the love of God in our lives, it is far too powerful for that to happen. We cannot cause His plan to be shifted, from the foundations of the world His loving eye rests totally and completely on us. Everything we celebrate at Christmastime points to the grace of our Lord. It is all Him, all grace, all the time. He is the One, Jesus, who does all the work, who carries all the load. And at just the right time in history, He stepped out of heaven and into our world for our peace and for our rescue. Merry Christmas, indeed!
Prayer: Father, help us to rest in You and in Your work done on our behalf in Your Son, Jesus. We bring nothing to the table except our brokenness and that brokenness is exactly why Jesus came. So we pray with the believers of old on this Christmas Day – Be near us, Lord Jesus, we ask Thee to stay close by us forever and love us we pray.