Winter Fire – Mighty God - Monday
Today’s Verse
Isaiah 9:6
“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.” (NIV)
This is the time of year when temperatures drop, mornings and evenings are noticeably dark, and everyone seems to shift into preparation mode—preparation for winter weather, preparation for Christmas, preparation for family members to come visit, or packing to travel… It’s often a season characterized by the dichotomy of hustle-and-bustle and dark, quiet evenings under warm blankets.
In the midst of running to-do lists and moments of reprieve, this time of year celebrates the most important preparation of all time: the coming of the Savior, who is Christ the King. As cheesy as it sounds, Jesus really is the reason for the season. Isaiah prophesies the coming of Christ in chapter 9 verse 6, “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.” This December, we are taking time to digest this passage as a church in our sermon series, Winter Fire. This week we will focus on Jesus as our Mighty God.
So… What does it mean for God to be mighty? The original Hebrew doesn’t complicate this word too much: it translates as strong, mighty, or brave. In English, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines might as “the power, authority, or resources wielded.” God is omnipotent—that is, all-powerful. Can you wrap your mind around that idea? That God has all power and authority? Jesus even made that statement in Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’” Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is called Mighty God.
For some of us, this season is full of excitement and joy. For others, stress and chaos. Still, many experience sadness, loss, and grief. No matter how you experience this season, I want to encourage you this week to remember the joy of Christ’s coming and lean on our Mighty God.
REFLECTION
Read Isaiah 9:1-7. Then, read Luke 2:1-21. How does Christ’s coming fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy? Write down any questions, discuss with a friend, or set a reminder of Christ’s first coming in front of you this week.