Daily Bible Verses for 12/20/2016

Advent: A King Born to Bring Light Into a Dark World – (Isaiah 9:2,6-7)

Daily Verse(s)
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Reading Notes
This Christmas season we celebrate the Light and Salvation of God, which has come into a dark world. A light which brings salvation to all of us who are in disharmony with God because of our sin. This light is Christ Jesus our Lord. This world has been covered in the shadow of death because of sin. Because of the fall of mankind, we have been trapped in the darkness of sin and death and separated from God. The darkness of sin enveloped this world. A darkness resulting from our broken relationship with God the Father, as a result of the fall of humanity. A brokenness, which we ourselves could not restore or repair. And because God loves us so dearly, in the due course of God’s perfect timing, He Himself stepped out of eternity, took on humanity and stepped into our world. Through Jesus, God gave us a light to forever break the shadow of death which was upon all mankind and robbed mortals of life and light. A light by which we may not only know God, but have eternal life in His name. By divinely ordained plan the tiny arms of an infant in Bethlehem’s manger, reached out and found a cross on which to bear the sins of the world.

At Christmas time we celebrate the child who was born unto us. Our God who stepped out of eternity, took on humanity while still retaining His divinity. This happened through the incarnation, and on that first Christmas day, there was born a King, a Prince of Peace who is Christ the Lord. And God’s gift does not end there! Through Jesus, we not only have salvation and eternal life, but through faith, we who were far off draw near to God. Through Jesus, we gain adoption into the family of God, through faith we become children of God and joint-heirs with Christ. Moreover, He is coming again! Jesus is returning to establish His kingdom, which will last forevermore. In addition, as the Lord promised us, the government will rest on His shoulders. Jesus will rule with justice, peace and love forevermore. Therefore, at Christmas time we not only celebrate the salvation we have in Christ Jesus our Lord, but also the eternity we have guaranteed to us by His work completed for us at the Cross of Calvary. Now and forever, Christ is King because of the cross. Through His suffering and death on that instrument of torture Jesus redeemed the lost and ushered believers into a kingdom that has no end. And this immense gift, that has been given freely to us because of God’s incredible love for us, all started with the virgin birth of a tiny infant in Bethlehem’s manger.