Domenico Gagini, The Nativity, NGO Image, National Gallery of Art, Public Domain
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 ESV)
It sometimes happens to the great truths of faith … they get reduced to memorable statements known in a poetic, recognizable and superficial way but not in the infusing life-giving and empowering manner in which they were given. Occasionally these realities of faith can be regulated to a type of seasonal noteworthy celebratory headline which suffers a fading decline into insignificance in the intervening months of general activities.
Sadly this happens to one of the greatest messages of the realities of the Christian faith: the powerful, redemptive, restorative, and the abiding gift of a counseling presence in the gift of a Savior was never meant to be just a Christmas gift. Jesus Christ is more. He is our Counselor, God, Father and Prince of Peace. He did not come to be a celebratory mantra during the Christmas season but a living relational gift of grace to us from our Heavenly Father.
Today on this day, long past the Christmas season, delight in the gifts your Savior brings to your life. He did not come to be a Christmas Savior … to exist forever as a designated perpetual seasonal baby in manger but as a living, redeeming, restoring, and abiding Savior. We need Him for more than a season.
We need to bring every difficulty to Him as He is the most “Wonderful Counselor” we will ever know as He will always listen and He will always provide insights and answers to every need. There is no one more knowledgeable than He and no one who has more empathy. There is no one who can do more to help us in every area of our life than Jesus Christ the “Mighty God.” He truly and faithfully comes as the “Everlasting Father,” who is more attentive, loving and true than we realize and He alone can bestow a peace beyond understanding because He has eternal access to the storehouses of contentment for the soul as the “Prince of Peace.” We need to let Him be these things and more … on this day and in every day, we are given life. Come to the One who is more! He has so much more to give to you!
Suggested Reading … Isaiah 9
