Day 7
Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7
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.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Story from the Blue Seats:
They say Christmas is a season of hope and joy. There’s a line in a Christmas carol “peace on earth and goodwill to men.” The angels declared this blessing on the shepherds, as they announced the birth of Jesus. But not everyone is at peace this Christmas. While many of us live in comfort, and enjoy time with families and friends, so many people around the world are desperate for some reprieve from their suffering and pain. In the depths of despair, many people questioned their faith.
I was 17 years old when I broke my neck. It was on a mission trip to the Bahamas and I my whole life changed in a moment. I went from a healthy athletic teenager to a paralyzed kid in the hospital learning everything all over again. I couldn’t move anything. it took all summer, and then some for me to learn to push my wheelchair and get around independently. I could write, and do some other things for myself, but even then I was pretty much dependent on other people for most things. Never once did I doubt my relationship or the reality of God.
That’s what peace is. It is that kind of piece that brought Daniel through the lion’s den, and the young Hebrew men through the fire, and which David wrote about in the valley of the shadow of death. It’s the peace that brought the Saints through persecution and tribulation across the years. It is a “peace that passes understanding.” It is not conditional on our circumstances.
This peace is only possible because Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He sits on the throne and his kingdom will never end. This kingdom was a promise then and is still a promise today. The people of Israel looked forward to the coming of the Messiah. As Christians, we celebrate his coming and look forward to a new heaven and new earth. Still, we live in this world, and we rest in his promise because he is the prince of peace.
