Shared from…Homeward Bound Family
Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
I have always loved Christmas. It was a special time around our home when I was growing up. There was the excitement of the season. It just seemed like most folks were kinder and happier around that time of year. I loved the time we spent together as a family. I still remember my dad, accompanying Bing Crosby, as we listened to him sing, “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas, and “Away In A Manger.” There was of course, his annual reading of “The Night Before Christmas,” and the thrill of waking up Christmas morning to see what all “Santa,” had left behind. Nor can I forget to mention all the wonderfully delicious food and desserts my mother spent hours preparing. They were so good! I am thankful for my home, my family and the good memories of the Christmas Days’ gone by.
It wasn’t however, until my 21st Christmas, that there was a sudden and drastic change in what that time meant to me. It was in the fall of that same year, that God, in His mercy and grace had saved my soul! A few months had passed, and it was Christmas time. One Lord’s Day, as we picked up our hymnals and sang one of those old familiar Christmas songs (the same ones I had grown up singing), that chills suddenly ran down my spine and tears of joy flooded my eyes! All these years I had been singing about the very child who had come to save my soul from sin! And Hallelujah, now I knew Him as my Lord and my Saviour!
Since that wonderful day that the Holy Spirit gave me spiritual life and opened my eyes, ears and heart to the transforming power of the precious word of God, I have read these verses many, many times. But, I can honestly say they mean more to me today than ever before.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
Today, I know more about this Child who was born that day on the cold ground of that dark stable in the little town of Bethlehem! I’ve learned that this child was so special, that these verses foretelling His birth, were recorded by God’s prophet Isaiah, some 700 years prior to His birth. God wanted us to know, that there would never be another child like this One!
Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
I understand now that this Child was truly, God the Son, God the Word, God the Creator, God the Sustainer, God the Redeemer, God the King of kings, God the Lord of lords, the Almighty God and SO MUCH MORE!
“For unto us…”
I marvel more everyday as the Lord shows me from His Word, the incredible love and mercy that caused our infinite, eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, ever present God to be born UNTO US! Unto a world full of self-centered, self-loving, self-serving, wicked, lustful, wretched sinners like ME. A man who had no desire to love and serve the very God who had created them, but who had willingly and totally rejected Him!
John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
May we, as we gather together to celebrate this special day, always be reminded that this day is all about the MOST WONDERFUL OF ALL GIFTS, THE UNSPEAKABLE GIFT OF JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR, WHO IS GIVEN UNTO US BECAUSE HE, GOD, SO LOVED US!
A Journey Through Blessings and Trials 