Preparing the Way of the Lord!
Sunday, December 12, 2004
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Today we thank You for the children and young people of New Life Christian Ministries who provide the leadership for the children’s Christmas program in worship today. We thank You that they love You and are willing to serve You in so many ways in and through our congregation. We pray that You will bless them and give them an extra measure of Your Holy Spirit as they seek to live for You in time such as these. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God’s Word Today
(Since the focus of worship Dec. 12, is the Children’s Program “Cradle to Crowns,” the Scripture readings this week will come from the program. We will expand on each of the Scriptures and invest a couple days to examining each!
Isaiah 9:6-7
6For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the LORD Almighty will guarantee this!
Psalm 149:1-4
1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful.
2 O Israel, rejoice in your Maker. O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King.
3 Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp.
4 For the LORD delights in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.
Revelation 4:9-11
9Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one who lives forever and ever. And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,
11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.”
Reflecting on God's Word
Think of a child who has been born in your family in the past ten years. What difference has he or she made in your life?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
What significant event does Isaiah foretell in today’s Scripture? (9:6)
What would be different about the child prophesied in today’s Scripture? (9:6)
Understanding God's Word
Why do you suppose that God told Isaiah to foretell the coming of Jesus, so long before it actually happened?
What does it mean to have the government “rest” on His shoulders?
Applying God's Word to Our Lives
What response does today’s focus Scripture ask of you right now?
Thoughts...A Child Is Born to Us
How easy it is for us to read Isaiah 9:6-7, and think only of the child or the baby, Jesus, lying in a manger and being visited by shepherds, rather than considering all the ramifications of Isaiah’s words! Isaiah tells us that Jesus would come to have the government “rest” on His soldiers. This wasn’t just the government of Israel, as significant as that would be, but the government of the entire world. When Jesus came to the earth 2,000 years ago, He did not establish an eternal kingdom here. He died to conquer sin and death, and rose again to give us the promise of our own resurrection from the dead, when we face death one day, but He did not establish an earthly reign. He did not take the government upon His soldiers—but He will! That’s the point and focus of our preparing the way for the Lord in 2004! Jesus will return, just as He came the first time, only this time He will do what John the Baptist expected Him to do the first time: Jesus will judge the world. He will judge us all, and those of us who have trusted Him as Savior and Lord, will be taken to be with Him for all eternity—and that’s a LONG time!
May we be ready, when He comes.