Scripture:
“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…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 and 9:6-7)
Devotion:
“Walking in darkness” is dangerous. You don’t know the right way to go, and you can’t see the things that are sure to trip you up or block your path. You eventually end up hurt, feeling bruised or broken by the consequences of a wrong turn or an unseen obstacle. Unfortunately, there is always plenty of “darkness” in this world that we must navigate.
The darker the situation is, the more important light becomes, and the brighter that light seems to shine. In Isaiah 9, God promised to send light. And not just any light: a great light. The Light. As Jesus explained in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Through Isaiah, God was promising the Israelites that Jesus was coming!
Besides saying that the coming Savior would be the Light, Isaiah listed several other names for Jesus: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. These names helped the Israelites understand that the coming Savior would know everything that they were going through and would be able to guide them in the right direction in every situation. This Savior would have all the power of God to protect them, and His kingdom would last forever. He would bring peace and restoration to the world.
This child wasn’t just coming for the Israelites that Isaiah was talking to; He was also coming to be the Light for you and me. We have all walked in the darkness of our sin, but Jesus came to bring light and peace through His death on the cross and resurrection three days later.
Questions:
- What are some other names of Jesus? What do they mean?
- What is your favorite name of God? Why?
- Who do you know that hasn’t heard about the peace and forgiveness that Jesus offers? How can you share the good news of the gospel with them and shine light in the darkness?
Family Activity:
For today’s ornament, draw a picture of the sun, reminding your family how God promised the light would shine in the darkness once again. To help you remember that light chases out darkness, grab enough flashlights for everyone in your family and play Flashlight Tag in your house or backyard. Afterwards pray and thank God that we don’t need to be afraid because nothing can turn off His light.
