REVEALING THE GIFT
Isaiah 9:6
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
As a parent, there are two things I love about Christmas Day. One is watching the faces of my loved ones as they peel off the paper from the mystery box they’re holding. The other is listening to my kids share what they received with the cousins and friends. After days and weeks of anticipation built up from walking pass boxes and bags with their name on it. The joy of the reveal is as good as the gift itself. Having a gift under the tree is one thing, but knowing what the gift is, possessing it, and sharing it for the first time is another.
In a world swirling with anger, war, recession, cancellation and depression. The revelation of our gift gives hope. As the prophet Isaiah declares the roll call of names our messiah will be known by, the final name on the list, Prince of Peace, brings stillness at the very mention. Even greater than the name is the blessed assurance he is more than a figurehead monarch, he is an embodied ruler, one who reigns and is what he reigns.
Beloved, as we journey together through this Advent season, reflecting on the promise and the gift sent to us from our father above. Unwrap your gift. Possess your gift. Give thanks for it and share Him wherever you go. The peace this world so longs for can only be experienced when we are intentional about sharing it.
Where can you invite the Prince of Peace to reign in your life today?
Who can you share the Prince of Peace with?
Eternal God,
Thank you for the promise, hope and fulfillment of peace through your son, Jesus. Today we possess the peace you have given us. We understand the world cannot take away what it did not give. So, father in those places and moments where chaos, anxiety, and depression desire to establish a stronghold we ask Peace to reign. Not just in our lives and households, but in our neighborhoods, cities, and the world….Peace reign, in Jesus name, Amen.