{a}dvent

⁶ 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.

⁷ 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 9:6-7

Advent, a time to looking forward of what is to come. This Advent season, Pastor Tyler has been focusing on the names of Jesus from Isaiah 9- Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. That has got to be one of the great mysteries of our faith, that God could send Jesus as a baby and He could be all those things, even as an infant. It is mysterious and hopeful all at the same time. Christ had to grow and learn like a human, but He still had many of the qualities of God.

God's gift to us, salvation began as an infant. Jesus was not what the people at the time were looking for, He wasn't the WARRIOR, sword drawn, ready to do physical battle. Jesus spent His life ministering to the HEART of the people. What the Jewish people had been longing for, looking for and praying for was finally there and sadly so many of them missed it.

I'm reminded of my study of the Patriarchs by Beth Moore. She pointed out that many of the events in the Old Testament pointed to the coming Messiah. A perfect example is Abraham and Issac. God asked a great thing of Abraham- take the son I gave you and sacrifice him. What?! Abraham obediently took Issac. I love the verse in Hebrews.

¹⁷By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, ¹⁸ of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." ¹⁹He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

Abraham believed that God not only kept His promises but could bring Issac back to life to do it! At what seems like the last minute, God provides a suitable sacrifice for Abraham. This points to the coming of Christ. Jesus would atone for the sins of the world. Jesus would take our place so we do not have to live a life separated from Him.

I love the song that was sung at Vintage 21 yesterday at the 11:30am service. I was back in the kids area checking my email and these words were sung- "No greater love story heaven could tell, God's gift of redemption, Emmanuel." Such true words.

What a wonderful reminded of the gift we've been given through Christ Jesus.

dmj.