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. 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! Isaiah 9:6-7
Meditate.
Consider Jesus in scripture.
We
have a record of Jesus’ ministry in the Gospels…Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. We’ll
focus on Jesus in those Gospels this year. What did Jesus teach? Where did Jesus
walk during His life on Earth? Where did His story begin?
His birth. God with us. Emmanuel. We just celebrated His birth, although it was
likely in March or April, not December 25th. Google that for yourself. The Luke
account of Jesus’ birth in a stable gives us a picture of the birth and the
background of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus getting to Bethlehem. God worked miracles
through angels who visited Mary and Joseph to let them know God’s plan. This
young couple was obedient. Can you imagine the ridicule and rejection they felt
in Nazareth? The census decree got them to Bethlehem, so that Jesus would be
born in the city of David in Judea, as predicted.
In
Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary sought shelter, and God provided a perfect place for
the Lamb of God to be born. It was just
where the sacrificial lambs for the Temple were born and raised.
What
can we learn from this account of Jesus’ birth? God had a plan that included
giving up His one and only Son, Jesus, as a sacrificial lamb for the sins of
mankind. God keeps His promises. Even though it meant allowing His precious Son
to become human and knowing that both He and Jesus would suffer, God kept His
promise to redeem mankind. It happened as predicted, but people didn’t see the
significance or put together the puzzle pieces. What is happening now that
people aren’t connecting the predictions that God has provided?
Prayer
– Lord God, open our eyes to the truth of Jesus’ birth and help us to see the
truth of the predictions about Your return, Jesus. So many people have a fear of
the symbolism in the book of Revelation, but personally, I claim the promise
that You will never leave us or forsake us. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Verse
of Salvation ~ This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time
is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first
believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So
remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of
right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all
to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or
in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.
Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't
let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. Romans 13:11-14 (Underlined for
emphasis.)
© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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