Expectation of good things to come fill our hearts with delight. Is it possible that the anticipation itself makes what we’ve waited for even sweeter? Make note of some things you are looking forward to. What is it that you are eagerly hoping for Christ to bring? Invite the Lord to encourage your heart in the waiting.
Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
Psalm 31:24
New parents will spend literally months thinking and even arguing about what to name their child! A name communicates so much about a person’s background, heritage, and even their character. This was especially true in the Old Testament times. In many cases, your name was what gave you identity and often described what kind of person you might become. In many ways, it was your parents’ dream for what you would be like. So, in Isaiah 9 when God is given a number of special names, it is very significant.
Last week, we studied the name Wonderful Counselor and learned that He can be relied on to step into our problems and struggles with compassion and power. Today, we will look at the name Everlasting Father. The name “father” brings out all kinds of emotions and memories of our own experiences with our earthly fathers, good or bad. Today, we will learn facts about our Everlasting Father that reveal that He is nothing like imperfect earthly fathers. In fact, we will find that our Everlasting Father is full of love, slow to anger, always present, and will never leave.
God is divine and Holy. If that’s all we could say about Him, we’d wonder how He could empathize with our very real human emotions. God became a man. If that’s all we could say, we’d doubt His power and authority. In Christ, He is fully God and fully human. We have a Sovereign and a Friend with whom we can trust our longings, sorrows, and deepest prayers. Talk to Him today.
I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah 57:15
Men came from the east following a star to find a newborn King. We don’t have a lot of details about them, but we do know they were wise. God had a purpose for their lives and they pursued it with perseverance. For what circumstances do you need supernatural wisdom? Write a prayer asking in faith for God to provide it.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; nd the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end.”
This passage about the coming of the Messiah was given in a very challenging time. The nation was under the threat of invasion and their leaders were full of doubt and fear. In the midst of this situation, God made sure that the nation knew that He would meet all of their needs. The awesome thing about the prophecy in Isaiah is that it was not just for the nation of Israel all those years ago. It was indeed a prophecy of the coming Messiah . . . our Wonderful Counselor . . . our Mighty God and Everlasting Father . . our Prince of Peace.
Christmas is the celebration of the ultimate coming of the One that is all of these things in the middle of our own fear and doubt. As we journey toward Christmas, it is good to know that the wisest, most wonderful counselor has been sent from Heaven to His people, and He waits to help us in time of need!
