Time for Grace-December 18, 2023

Time for Grace-December 18, 2023

Isaiah 9: 6 – 7

For to us a child is born. To us a son is given. The authority to rule will rest on his shoulders. He will be named: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no limit to his authority and no end to the peace he brings. He will rule on David’s throne and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from now on, into eternity. The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.

Dear Heavenly Father,

For ages, Your people anticipated that a Savior would come, expecting Him to be one who would govern the earth in justice and righteousness; He would restore the throne of David on the earth. Your Son did come, and He does rule, but His Kingdom was not of this world; it is something far more superior—a heavenly kingdom.

Jesus has brought peace to all who have faith in Him; He gives eternal life to all who believe. Since we were born in this world, we have also entered it in sin; as David wrote in Psalm 51, “Certainly I was sinful when I was born, I was sinful when my mother conceived me.”  But Jesus gave His life on the cross to rescue us from this fallen world and deliver us to His heavenly kingdom, where He brought us eternal life and salvation.

Jesus is our wonderful counselor to whom we can bring our cares, troubles, and worries. In return, He assures us of our forgiveness through faith in Him. Jesus is our Mighty God, who has power over everything on this earth because He created this universe and us. He has power over what no one else has, which is to undo all our sins and remove them. Jesus is our everlasting Father, caring for all our needs with perfect love. He is our Prince of Peace. Through His salvational work, He has restored us to perfect peace with you by removing our sins.

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending us your Son, who is just. Jesus came to bring salvation into the world so that all who believe are made right with you—righteous, but he is also just so that those who reject him remain held accountable for their sins. So, we pray for opportunities to share the good news of Jesus’ forgiveness with those who do not know you. May they trust in your Son, our Savior, and have eternal life. Amen.

Written through Pastor Roger Emmons

Jesus came that first Christmas to bring peace, joy, hope, and salvation; that stillness of the night led to a cross at Calvary. It was on that cross where blood was shed, and your freedom from sin was secured; in his death, your victory was won.