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God's Words For US
by Cecelia Lester
A Light for the World
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. 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 9:2,6 NIV)
The world was full of sin. People chose to go their own way, the kings chose to do what they felt was right to them. They erected altars and shrines to pagan gods.
Isaiah prophesied that the people would find a way out of their sin though a ‘great light’. We now know that light to be Jesus, the Son of God.
People look forward to the birth of a child. The child Isaiah spoke of would belong to the nation of Israel. This son would be a gift. He would reign over the land. His rule would be for the fairness of all people. He would act as a guide or a teacher for all who believed and listened. His influence would be eternal and He would be close to His children. He would bring peace to the nations.
In today’s world, we hear of soldiers waking up not knowing what will happen to them that day. Children, who live in war zones, arise each day to the sound of gunfire. Our newspapers relate stories of domestic violence and abusive situations right here in our communities. With one exception, we face the same bleakness the people of Isaiah’s time lived through.
We have Jesus interceding on our behalf. Isaiah gives Him some comforting names, Wonderful-full of awe, Counselor-one who advises, Mighty God-a God of strength, Everlasting Father- one who will always be there for us. Prince of Peace- one keeps war and strife away.
During this season of Advent, I pray we can look at God through the eyes of the prophet Isaiah and learn more about Jesus.
King of Kings
“I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time-God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of Kings, who is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light. To him be honor and might forever, Amen.”
1 Timothy 6:13c16 (NIV)
While we don’t have kings ruling the United States, I picture rulers of nations dressed in their long ermine-trimmed robes, seated on massive thrones. Bright crowns adorn their heads. People who are in audience with the royalty bow before them.
Paul calls Jesus the King of Kings in his first letter to Timothy and John does in Revelations three times, a total of four times. I have often wondered what the name means.
The Way, The Truth, The Life
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.
(John 14:6 NIV)
“‘See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Malachi 3:1 NIV)
“From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:1617 (NIV)
Jesus traveled into a foreign area. He was thirsty. He met a woman who was getting her daily amount of water from the well. By custom, he shouldn’t be talking to her-she being a woman and He being from another land. She told Him she knew the Messiah would come soon. Jesus told her He was the one she spoke of.
Later in His ministry, Jesus told the twelve disciples He is the only route, the only path to God. The Master used terms the disciples could understand.
John described Him as being ‘’full of grace and truth.” We know people will tell untruths to us. We know others won’t forgive us when we do things that are hurtful to others. But Jesus is our model of grace, mercy, love and truth. Shouldn’t we look to Him and ponder these qualities of our Savior each time we have doubts, trials, and traumas in our lives?
In history a king ruled over a definite area. Jesus’ kingdom is endless. Also, a king reigned from the time of his coronation until his demise. Jesus’ tenure is timeless, eternal. Historically, the rulers of some nations were considered despots or tyrants. Jesus and His Father are just.
When we see Jesus, He will be arrayed in splendor, “dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were like wool and as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire, his feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of rushing water. Revelation 1:13b15 (NIV)
Dear God:
As we await the return of Your Son Jesus, please remind us of who He is and what He has done for us. Even as we celebrate his birth, let us be mindful of what He did in order for us to be worthy to live with Him when we are deemed acceptable. In the name of Jesus, I pray. AMEN
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Cecelia Lester has been serious about her writing for over two decades..
She composes Christian essays and posts them to her blog quietspirit-followingmyking.blogspot.com/
She has served in a faith-based organization, Grace In Action by writing two newsletters and searching for possible grants.
In July 2017, she published her first book, 'Times of Trouble Bring Rays of Joy.'
She and her husband of 54 years live in central Indiana. They have one grown son.
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