Today, we’re making room in our hearts to discover who Jesus is to us, and what the Christmas season truly means. Let’s dig deeper into the different names of Christ and how He brings His perfect joy & peace to the world.
Special thanks to Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission, for bringing us the Bible For Busy People this Christmas season!
Show Notes:
- Who Is Jesus? Let us introduce you!
- Have a prayer request? Leave it here.
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Transcription:
Make your list and check it twice, right? Hi, it’s the Bible for Busy People. I’m Erica, your host, and I live by my to-do list every day. I actually get a rush out of checking things off. I’ve got my legal pad and my markers. And then around the holiday season, which we’re basically in right now, it feels like my to-do list rivals Santas, right? And that’s why this week you and I are just pausing to breathe and to remember the reason for the season. We are making room in our hearts for the Christ child, and in doing that, it’s funny how the peace floods in. Sometimes it starts to stream slowly and all of a sudden your heart is just filled with His presence, and there that’s where the joy is, in his presence. So, today we’re going to make a little list. It just has four beautiful things on it, four descriptions of who our God is.
Who was this Jesus? This Messiah who was promised to us. Well, join me in the book of Isaiah chapter nine. We were actually there last time, but this time we’re going to visit verse six. Isaiah is about to describe who Jesus was and is and who will always be.
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!
Okay, so we are going to take those four beautiful descriptions one by one. We’re going to pitch a tent on each beautiful phrase that Isaiah uses to tell us who Jesus, our savior, our rescuer is beginning with wonderful counselor, join me now. We’re going to read one verse in the book of James chapter one, verse five.
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
I mean, is there any one of us who doesn’t need wisdom for some situation in our lives right now? Isn’t it wonderful that God is so willing to give it to you? He’s willing to counsel you. He’s the wonderful counselor. And I believe sometimes when you and I just sit down and get quiet, and we focus on who he is, and maybe we curl up in a fuzzy warm blanket, sit by the fire or light a candle like we did last time. You can do that each day this week when you and I just focus on this list, we’re going to feel better. We’re going to remember that everything we need is in Christ and available to us, beginning with wisdom.
So I just encourage you to sit with him today, wherever you’re most comfortable. Maybe it’s in your car. He already knows what’s on your heart, the thing that’s pressing on you. Just say, God, I give this to you. Please give me discernment in this situation. Show me what to say, what to do, and then just listen. Listen for his still small voice and he will counsel you. It might come from a verse in the Bible, your answer, or from another person who’s praying for you. You never know, but he’s so willing to give us his wisdom. Okay, that’s wonderful counselor, the first name on our list today. I love this list, don’t you? It is just subtracting the stress instead of adding it.
Second beautiful phrase that the prophet Isaiah used to describe our Lord, mighty God. Join me now in Zephaniah chapter three, verse 17. By the way, I had to look this up because I have read this verse many times, but I really didn’t know who Zephaniah was. He’s a prophet just like our pal Isaiah, a person who the Lord tapped to deliver his messages through. So here we go. This is a beautiful verse.
For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.
God is so mighty and so tender with us. Focus on that right now. Know that he takes delight in you. He doesn’t see your mess ups once you ask forgiveness for them, they go away. He takes delight in the person he made you to be. Okay, so we’ve covered wonderful counselor, mighty God.
We are moving on to everlasting. Father, do you know God is your father? Listen to John’s gospel chapter one beginning in verse 10.
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
You were chosen. Remember last week we talked about how you and I were adopted into God’s family? You have a father who loves you so much.
Finally, Jesus, Isaiah prophesied, is our prince of peace. Listen to the words of our Lord in John 14:27.
Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Oh, these words are so warm and full of love. It’s like wrapping yourself in a blanket of love when you hear them, isn’t it? So today, we have made a list of some of the most beautiful ways anyone, any human, any prophet, has ever described our Lord. Christ is coming to us and we’re making room for him. He is the wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, and our prince of peace. Till next time, you are really loved.
Thank you for making space to study the Bible with me today. If you feel something stirring in your soul, that’s the God who made you, saying, I love you and I want to know you. It’s what Christmas is all about. Jesus came for you so that your soul would know its worth. He came to bring joy to the world, and to your world. It’s the most beautiful love story ever written, and it’s true. It’s the greatest rescue mission in history, and it was for you. If you want to respond to that stirring in your soul, to know Jesus a little better, please take a moment and check out our show notes, where you’ll find lots of hope and encouragement for your journey.
The Bible for Busy people is brought to you this Christmas season by Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission. Every day and every night, their team is on a mission to share the good news with our neighbors who are homeless. Like the angels who came on the night, Jesus was born. They make sure that every person who walks through the doors of the Mission knows that there is hope because Jesus came, and how much He loves them. Every person they meet on the street encounters the love of Christ through a friendly smile, a warm blanket, a cup of cocoa, and an invitation to take that next step toward healing from addiction or mental illness. If you want to be part of making sure every soul knows its worth in Seattle this Christmas, volunteer or donate at ugm.org. Thank you and Merry Christmas.
This podcast is one branch of a Christmas tree called Purposely, a network designed to connect you with life-giving conversations, and to inspire you to find and live out God’s purpose for your life. If you’ve got a pulse, you’ve got a purpose.
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