Isaiah 9:6 - HAVE JESUS; HAVE PEACE.
Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) 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.
COMMENTARY PEARL
As we enter into the season of peace that
Christmas brings, Im reminded of an overachieving
peace lily that outgrew every pot I put it in and
offered literal shade in a corner of our family room
for longer than I can remember.
The peace lily was given in memory of my
father. Years ago, the flowers and plants from my
dad's funeral overwhelmed our family. After Mom
took home the ones she could fit in her car and
the foyer of our childhood home, my four
siblings and I selected special arrangements or
potted plants that held meaning for us. I selected
the peace lily. The symbolism spoke of what it
was like to have to say a temporary goodbye to a
man who had lived his entire life with heaven on
his mind and his soul at peace with God.
I attributed the lily's outrageous growth
to the sunlight in the family room - or maybe
because the plant was too large to ignore, it was
watered regularly, unlike my smaller mostly dormant
Christmas cactus. But a familiar Christmas season
Bible verse adds more to the story. I think the
lily was simply responding to its Prince of Peace
namesake, about whom Isaiah tells us of the
increase of his government and of peace there will be
no end." The plant kept growing because that's
what Jesus's peace does. His peace has no end.
Cynthia Ruchti
Faith Step: How is the peace Jesus brings
represented in your home? With a plant? A wall-hanging?
Or the fragrance of peace you add to the scene?
[Mornings With Jesus 2022 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
Heaven gave to men its best and greatest.
He who had stood in the councils of the Most
High, who had dwelt in the innermost sanctuary of
the Eternal, was the One chosen to reveal in
person to humanity the knowledge of God.
Through Christ had been communicated
every ray of divine light that had ever reached
our fallen world. It was He who had spoken
through everyone that throughout the ages had
declared Gods word to man. Of Him all the
excellences manifest in the earths greatest and
noblest souls were reflections. The purity and
beneficence of Joseph, the faith and meekness and
long-suffering of Moses, the steadfastness of Elisha, the
noble integrity and firmness of Daniel, the ardor
and self-sacrifice of Paul, the mental and
spiritual power manifest in all these men, and in all
others who had ever dwelt on the earth, were but
gleams from the shining of His glory. In Him was
found the perfect ideal.
To reveal this ideal as the only true
standard for attainment; to show what every human
being might become; what, through the indwelling
of humanity by divinity, all who received Him
would become"for this, Christ came to the world.
He came to show how men are to be trained as
befits the sons of God; how on earth they are to
practice the principles and to live the life of
heaven.
Gods greatest gift was bestowed to
meet mans greatest need. The Light appeared
when the worlds darkness was deepest. Through
false teaching the minds of men had long been
turned away from God. In the prevailing systems of
education, human philosophy had taken the place of
divine revelation. Instead of the heaven-given
standard of truth, men had accepted a standard of
their own devising. From the Light of life they
had turned aside to walk in the sparks of the
fire which they had kindled. Ed73-74
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Majestic Jesus,
I come joyfully into Your Presence, my
Prince of Peace. I love to hear You whispering the
words You spoke to Your fearful disciples: "Peace
be with you!" I rejoice that Your Peace is
always with me because You are my constant
Companion. When I keep my focus on You, I can
experience both Your Presence and Your Peace. You are
worthy of all my worship - for You are King of
kings, Lord of lords, and Prince of Peace.
I need Your Peace each moment in order to
accomplish Your purposes in my life. I confess that
sometimes I'm tempted to take shortcuts - to reach my
goals as quickly as possible. But I'm learning
that if the shortcuts involve turning away from
Your peaceful Presence, I must choose the longer
route.
Lord, please help me to keep walking with
You along the path of Peace - enjoying the
journey in Your Presence.
In Your worthy Name, Amen (Isaiah 9:6;
John 20:19; Psalm 25:4 NKJV; Luke 1:79) [Jesus
Listens by Sarah Young]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Isaiah 9:6 - HAVE JESUS; HAVE PEACE.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20221205-0851.html
Isaiah 9:6 - Gift of All Gifts; For Unto Us
A Son Is Given.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20211222-0934.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20211221-0911.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
