365 Days with God - Day 103: For Unto Us a Child is Born

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 103, April 2, 2014

Readings: Psalm 103, Leviticus 10, Isaiah 9:1-7, 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called 
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:2-7)

I love Isaiah's poetry about Jesus. I'm not normally a poetry guy, but I think it is beautiful. But even more beautiful are the promises Go dis making to His people and to the whole world. We who are not Jews are dwellers in a land of deep darkness, and have been added to the nation, to God's people. We will receive God's blessings as well - what a gift!

It's hard not to think of the Christmas song while reading this, but I'm trying. But seeing the promise made, knowing that God sent Jesus to be so many amazing things, to do amazing things, and that this is even a foreshadowing of things that have not yet happened even still! There will be no end to the increase of peace, justice, righteousness. I could go for that.

And God makes this a promise. There is no uncertainty here: The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. He is committed. We have nothing to fear, and Jesus to trust for all our needs. He will come through. He will do great things. We will be added to His nation, His kingdom. Thank you God for your son Jesus! Thank you for His sacrifice!