Bonus Preview Post

Hello! Today I am sending out a ‘preview post’ for the upcoming Embracing Hope series to you and others who have already signed up for the series. Thank you so much choosing to join me for this devotional series. Below is a post from last year’s Advent series in order give a bit of a taste of what to expect with this year’s series.

I do have a favour to ask you: Would you be willing to invite some other people to join the series? I’m working hard to let people know about it, and I need your help. One of the best ways to do this is through different social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and others. You can also invite people individually as well.

You can also visit the House of Prayer Edmonton website that has a short promo video, as another option to help spread the word.

Thank you so much. Now, here’s the extra preview post:

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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. 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. -Isaiah 9:6-7

Today we will look at the famous declaration, “for to us a child is born, to us a son is given’. We discover that the promised light and hope will be found, not merely in a sudden change in circumstances, but in the arrival of a person, a child, a son. As Christians we know that this has been fulfilled in the the first advent, the birth of Jesus, and we also look with  future hope for the eternal kingdom that will be ushered in at the second advent, at Christ’s return.

Our hope is found in this child, God’s son given to us as a gift; from birth he will be king, bearing the weight of divine government on his shoulders, and thus lifting off the yoke that burdens the shoulders of God’s people. Centuries later the angel would speak this same revelation to Mary, saying, “the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Lk. 1:32-33).

There are four names that Isaiah gives to this unique son that confirm to us that this is none other than Immanuel, God with us:

• Wonderful Counselor: he will be one who leads with divine wisdom and counsel

• Mighty God: in Hebrew this is El Gibbor, the mighty warrior who is able to defend his people

• Everlasting Father: his reign will have no end and he will lead with the heart of a father

• Prince of Peace: his rule will free the people from anxiety and enable them to live in harmony

As we meditate on these verses in Isaiah 9, we can look back to the birth of Jesus, and recognize that yes, the promises have taken place -Jesus was the child to be born, the son who was given. This gives us real and living hope that the future promises of Jesus’ second advent, when he will come again and rule and reign forever, will surely come to pass.