Christmas Devotional | 2018 - Day 18
Peace
By Alan Lynch
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
The Christmas season provides an opportune time to reflect on the goodness of God to mankind in fulfilling His Word to provide the Messiah who would “save us from our sins.” My absolute favorite Scripture when it comes to Christmas is found in Isaiah 9:6. This is a beautiful verse written 600 years before the birth of Christ to Mary in Bethlehem. It is the premier prophecy of the coming Messiah that would give great hope to all humanity and change the destiny and future of many.
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” This verse is so rich in its meaning for us. In this verse, we see the humanity of Christ and the deity of Christ. He experienced and understands our pain. He is also our coming King who will reign in righteousness and peace in a worldwide kingdom one day. Christ is also the most wonderful Counselor, who knows our needs and is able to meet them with His truth like none other. He clears the confusion of our lives. As the Mighty God, He brings order in our chaos. And He is the Father of eternity. This verse ends describing Him as the Prince of Peace.
He is the Prince that is peace, brings peace, and gives peace. That is the peace that has definitely changed my life. We can all have “peace from God” described in Romans 1:7 if we will receive His grace. We can have “peace with God” if we call upon Him in faith (Romans 5:1). And we can have the “peace of God” that surpasses all of our understanding as we depend upon Him in our everyday living as we see in Philippians 4:7.
When Jesus was born to Mary in Bethlehem, the angels were praising God and saying “peace on earth and good will toward men” in Luke 2:14. He who is Peace came to bring you peace! Have you received the Prince of Peace? If not, then call upon Him. If so, honor Him, and reflect on who He is and how that affects you and your family this Christmas as you gather with your friends and loved ones.
My greatest joy, other than Christ, is to gather with my family and reflect and to personally praise God for His goodness to us, and to lead them to love and cherish the Lord who has been so good to us! My favorite song at Christmas, comes from a passage in Isaiah also repeated in the New Testament, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us (Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 7:14).”
May the God, who is the Prince of Peace, bring you a greater peace as you celebrate Jesus this Christmas season! Have a very Merry Christmas!
What is your favorite Christmas song?
“Emmanuel God With Us”
What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Gathering around a fire in the snow with the family and singing Christmas Carols!
What is your favorite Christmas dish or drink?
Heavenly Hash is my favorite Christmas dish and hot wassel is my favorite holiday drink.
Author Bio
Alan Lynch
Alan Lynch
Minister of Pastoral Care and Missions
Alan has a passion to minister to and assist the body of Christ to experience God’s fullest blessings. He is passionate about the great commandment and the Great Commission. Alan and his wife, Janna, have three adult children and one grandson.
