Isaiah 11: 1-10v v2 “ And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him- the Spirit of Wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and might, the Spirit of Knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”
Isaiah was well acquainted with both the rich, the judges and the priests who were living less than perfect lives as well as the poor, the underprivileged, the widow and children who had little standing in the community in which he lived. As one of the major prophets in the Christian religion of the Old Testament he paints a picture of the coming Messiah over 700 years before His birth. If our object as Christians is to grow more Christ like, then we should dwell on these words as they foretell His character. He will be wise, and understanding, delight in obeying the Lord, not judge by appearance, make fair decisions for the exploited. Righteousness will be His belt and truth His undergarments. The world will be a place where the baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. A little child will put its hands in a nest of deadly snakes without harm. The earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.
It’s always a battle at this time of the year to keep from getting overwhelmed by the extra ‘jobs’ of the Christmas season. To keep calm in the organizing of gifts and food and decorating the house. To remember the December birthdays need celebrating too. What would Jesus do? Isaiah paints a picture of the baby and the child despite being surrounded by deadly influences not being harmed. So, lets create a space for the little ones we know to be safe but part of what we celebrate. To be understanding of relatives who choose to stay away from family gatherings. To above all love the Lord and those around you. Let there be peace in your celebrations this year.
Prayer: Heavenly Father as we plan for the celebration of the birth of Jesus your Son, keep peace in our hearts and our actions in the coming weeks. Amen
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