December 05 | Freedom!
Isaiah 9:2-11 (NIV)
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
6 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.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
8 The Lord has sent a message against Jacob;
it will fall on Israel.
9 All the people will know it—
Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria—
who say with pride
and arrogance of heart,
10 “The bricks have fallen down,
but we will rebuild with dressed stone;
the fig trees have been felled,
but we will replace them with cedars.”
11 But the Lord has strengthened Rezin’s foes against them
and has spurred their enemies on.
Freedom!
At the time Isaiah had written this, Israel was walking in darkness. They had turned away from God. They were in a time of trouble. Sadly, the result of their own hands as a Nation. Too often we find ourselves in the same place, don’t we?
Pause and Think
Sin Leads to captivity
Though Israel’s pain was the result of the nation’s choices, God was gracious and spoke to them through the prophet Isaiah, He gave them a promise of future FREEDOM!
As you’re reading today during this Christmas season, you may find yourself like Israel in a painful time. I know what that’s like. Maybe it’s due to your own choices maybe because of what someone else has done or you could be experiencing the broken cycle that sin in general has caused in the world. Today I want to encourage you! This portion of scripture is all about FREEDOM; Christmas is about the promise and fulfillment of Messiah, The Christ Child, and all that He would bring to our lives! The amazing thing is that unlike Israel, we don’t have to wait. The promise is for us here and now and has already been fulfilled through Him, Jesus Messiah!
The scripture above describes Jesus as:
Light
One who increases Joy
Brings harvest and increase
Yoke breaker
Burden lifter
One who lifts oppression
Puts away our battle clothes because He’s already won our fight
Government is on His shoulders
Wonderful
Counselor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace
One who brings justice
Promised child that would bring salvation, forgiveness of sins and new life
What are you facing today?
Write it down and compare it to who Jesus is and the freedom he offers. I bet it looks smaller after you make that comparison.
Let’s end by applying the living word of God so you can receive the FREEDOM that Jesus came bring.
Prayer and Action Steps:
Confess Sin that you need to turn away from.
What promises from this passage do you need to stand on?
What attributes of God do you need to reflect on and experience?
What life changes do you need to make to walk out your new freedom?
My prayer for you this Christmas is that you would know and walk in the FREEDOM that Christ came to bring.
Merry Christmas
~Rev. Rose G