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 9:6
Each year, the Christmas season comes and goes. We read and sing about Isaiah 9:6 time and time again as we move through the month of December. We are excited about its significance, yet the Christmas season passes, and we don’t hear much of Isaiah 9:6 until the following Christmas year when the cycle repeats itself once again. This week of Advent we recognize peace. We recognize not only peace, but where peace comes from. We recognize the God who desires peace more than anyone, any system, or any people group in the world. We recognize a God whose intended purpose for his creation was peace. And we recognize a God who will one day restore all things back to his intended peaceful creation. Jesus came into this world as a baby boy. My guess is that his childbirth was anything but peaceful. I’m sure his job as a carpenter included dealing with tough customers, and we know that his Earthly ministry was fraught with chaos and resulted in crucifixion on a Roman cross. How can a man with this resume be the Prince of Peace? God desires peace for each part of his creation; however, Jesus was a peace offering for us, and through his coming, his life, his death, and his resurrection, he extends to us a spiritual peace that transcends the chaos and disorder of life. During this season, my prayer is that Isaiah 9:6 is more than just a verse we hear during Christmas. I pray it is a continuous reminder of the gift that we have been offered. It has been offered to you. Will you receive it?
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