Bible Verse: For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 9:1-7; John 3:16-21
Merry Christmas! The day we’ve been waiting for is finally here. What did you get this Christmas? Socks, ties, or tools? Any favorites? Any disappointments?
One of my greatest Christmas gift disappointments happened as a young boy.
A particular toy in the classic Sears catalogue caught my eye…it was a toy rifle. But not just any rifle. Every pretend shot was designed to emit fake smoke to give the illusion of actual gunfire. Christmas morning was filled with anticipation and excitement, and I was on cloud nine when I opened it. I tore it from its wrappings and couldn’t believe it was mine. Move over Lone Ranger and GI Joe; I was about to be the new gunslinger in town.
Ready. Aim. Fire…Nothing.
Talk about being disappointed and firearm frustration. I guess you could call it my “smoking gun” mystery. The only consolation my parents could give me was to attempt a return after Christmas, but that might take forever in a non-Amazon delivery world. Christmas was a bust. “Gunsmoke” was cancelled before it began.
The tragedy of my ruined Christmas was not a broken toy but a missed purpose. In fairness, I was very young, but to be honest, the propensity to forget the meaning of Christmas is still there.
In a world that can’t seem to slow down, where consumerism is on hyper-drive, and individualism is a new religion, it is easy to forget that the purpose of Christmas is not what we get but Who we receive.
Isaiah prophesied a time when a child would be born and given to us, and His name would be epic: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
These names are more than poetic; they are personal and practical. The last name, “Prince of Peace,” points to one who would establish a Kingdom marked by eternal peace.
God demonstrated His love in the most personal way for the world’s greatest needs. In possibly the most well-known verse of the Bible, John states it like this: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son…” (John 3:16, NLT). God didn’t send the latest tech or toy for our deepest needs. He sent Himself. And that gift of peace changes everything. The Prince of Peace has delivered peace for our past, present, and future.
No matter what you did or didn’t get this Christmas, receive the gift of peace from the Prince of Peace.
Prayer: Lord, please forgive me for the times I’ve missed You, the greatest gift of all. Today, I receive you as my Prince of Peace. Amen.
Reflection: Take a moment today to thank God for His indescribable gift. Reread the Christmas story in Matthew or Luke and remind yourself of God’s plan and purposes.
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