Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32.
And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him. Luke 5:11.
For He taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. Matthew 7:29.
Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:32-33.
And continuing our 351 Old Testament prophecies, promises of God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we come to number 180: The Mighty God, El Gibor. Isaiah 9:6: For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. And, 1 Corinthians 1:24; Titus 2:13: But to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.
We have read Isaiah 9:6 eight times so far with two more to come as we read prophecies showing us the coming of Jesus, the Christ. And we could ask how could they have expected Him to come as He did, as a baby born of a young woman, a virgin. And yet, Isaiah spoke clearly 700 years before these events occurred: For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us. Prophets of God, from age 12 to 80, came to men and spoke as God inspired them to speak. And just as in the parable Jesus gave in Matthew 21:33-40, the Father sent His Son. Jesus, the Son, experienced everything we experience including birth, childhood, what it is to be a son loved by His mother and stepfather, what it is to be taught by the local Rabbi, and what is to learn a trade by His stepfather; and what is to have friends dearly loved. He surpassed the teachings of the Rabbis in the Temple at 12 years of age and they marveled at His understanding and answers, Luke 2:46-47. And His parents began to understand, and learned to trust God for all that Jesus would do and be.
When I was writing this, I noted two Scripture verses, Ephesians 4:32 and Titus 2:13, were incorrectly typed in the devotionals, so in Titus, I needed to search to discover which verse was meant. And found this: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds…But when the kindness of God our Savior – and His love for mankind appeared – He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7. How could they have expected Him to come as He did then, and come He did – just as was prophesied? How could we have expected all that the Father is doing even now in this present lawless age ruled by men – also prophesied? But the real question is, are we ready to begin to trust Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, who has never lied to us? LORD, help us see. Our need for You is great, just as it was then and always will be. I keep thinking about the perfect peace we learned about in our ladies retreat. Perfect Peace is found with God! Shalom – peace, wholeness, completeness, well-being, harmony, and restoration. His Will for us His children dearly loved. Creator God has always shown us the way, if we would just trust Him for everything because only in trusting Him can we begin to see and understand.
***I’M NOT ASHAMED – I’m not ashamed to own my LORD or to defend His cause, maintain the honor of His word – the glory of His cross. Jesus, my God! I know His name; His name is all my trust; nor will He put my soul to shame nor let my hope be lost. Firm as His throne His promise stands, and He can well secure what I’ve committed to His hands till the decisive hour. Then will He own my worthless name before His Father’s face and in the new Jerusalem appoint my soul a place. Isaac Watts, “I’m Not Ashamed to Own the Lord,” 1709.***
