Thought for January 17

 History:

• 1773: First recorded crossing of the Antarctic Circle--James Cook
• 1912: Robert Scott arrives at the South Pole, one month after Roald Amundsen
• 1916: Rodman Wanamaker hosts a lunch to discuss forming a golfers association--later the PGA
• 1946: First meeting of the UN Security Council
• 1984: Supreme Court rules home recording on VCR's does not violate copyright. 
• 1991: Operation Desert Storm begins
• Born: Benjamin Franklin, Al Capone, Betty White, Muhammad Ali, Andrew Vaughn [best son-in-law]
• Died: Rutherford B Hayes, Juliette Gordon Lowe [Girl Scouts], Boby Fischer [chess]

Thought:

Reading Isaiah 9:2-7 this morning. Many of us read this passage at Christmas or heard it read. But this passage should speak to me every day. Here is what I see:

• We were in darkness [9:2] and many of the people around us continue to walk in darkness. Think about what it means to walk in darkness--we cannot see clearly or at all. So we grope and stumble. We walk with fear and doubt. We look for something or someone to hold onto. We cannot tell the right direction to walk--pitfalls, traps, snares, predators are there and we are anxious and fearful. Our pastor's sermon Sunday was on 1 John 1--If we say we have fellowship with God, but walk in darkness, we lie. For God is light an in Hi there is no darkness at all.
• We saw a great light [9:2]. What joy, what relief, what a blessing. You have been there. Power goes out and the house is pitch black--then you find the flashlight. The light is described in 9:6-7. 
• The light was born as a child [9:6]. The people were looking for a light riding on a white horse with shining armor--God sent a baby. Makes me think of David and Goliath. The enemy seemed supernatural, too big for me, too powerful for me--God sent a young boy with a slingshot. 186,000 soldiers surrounded Jerusalem--God, please send an army. God sent one angel. God does things His way to demonstrate His power and grace. So Larry, never underestimate the power of God, His miraculous ways. 
• The child was born to us and for us. [9:6] John 3:16--God so loved the world that He gave His only son. The child sent to us---what a gift!
• The government will rest on His shoulders [9:6].  Oh, if only our government was on His shoulders. Here we have God's pronouncement that Jesus is the living embodiment of God's laws; He is the interpreter of God's laws; He has authority to enforce God's laws; He is judge and jury regarding God's laws. Anyone else who tries to tell us what God meant has no authority. Have you ever looked up the definition of "government." 
• The exercise of authority over the actions and affairs of a people.
• The person authorized to administer the laws
• He has many names
• Wonderful counselor---Look to Him for your advice. His advice is given by someone who knows the past and the future, someone who knows everything about you. So His advice is always right.
• Mighty God--He has control. He is Sovereign. Everything was made by Him, for Him and through Him. He can keep every promise. Nothing is too difficult for Him.
• Everlasting Father. He and God are One. He was in the beginning and He will be forever--His kingdom has no end. 
• Prince of Peace. He is the Great Reconciler, the Peacemaker between us and God. And one day He will reign over His kingdom is perfect peace.
• God's zeal will accomplish it [9:7]. This plan seems too amazing, too difficult, too outrageous. It is not our ways, it is not our thoughts. It may seem impossible--BUT the ardor, passion, zeal of the Lord will do it. We talk about "passion week" around Easter. The passion of Christ accomplished it so He could say "it is finished." While Jesus has not yet returned to reign on earth, He will. 

So what does that mean for me today--Walk in His light, accept His gift, seek His counsel, trust His promises, eagerly await His return--and tell everyone the truth. 

Blessings

Larry