All I Want For Christmas Is…
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, it’s so easy to get lost in the busyness of the holidays. Help me keep my focus on Jesus, the reason for the season. Amen
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 NLT
Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. James 1:17-18 NLT
REFLECT:
We are starting a sermon series based on a Christmas play list. Isaiah 9: 6-7 reminds me of the majestic oratorio, Handel’s Messiah. Several years ago, my wife and I had the pleasure of attending the performance of the Messiah at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. It is hard to express in words the feelings we both had as we stood for the Hallelujah Chorus. Cold chills ran up and down my spine as we joined in singing it. To me, The Messiah represents all that Christmas is about. It’s not getting presents that often are set aside. It’s about the hope that the birth of Christ brought into the world.
Warren Weirsbe provides a wonderful commentary on the significance of Isaiah 9:6-7, “Isaiah declared both the humanity (‘a Child is born’) and the deity (‘a Son is given’) of the Lord Jesus Christ. The prophet then leaped ahead to the kingdom age when Messiah will reign in righteousness and justice from David’s throne. God had promised David that his dynasty and throne would be established forever, and this was fulfilled literally in Jesus Christ, who will one day reign from Jerusalem.
If His name is ‘Wonderful,’ then there will be nothing dull about His reign! As ‘Counselor,’ He has the wisdom to rule justly; and as the ‘Mighty God,’ He has the power to execute His wise plans. ‘Everlasting Father’ does not suggest that the Son is also the Father, for each Person in the Godhead is distinct. ‘Father of eternity’ would be a better translation.”
This makes me realize that Jesus Christ is “All I want for Christmas.”
APPLY:
During this busy season of shopping and preparing for Christmas celebrations, take time to listen to a performance of the Messiah. It’s available on YouTube. The full oratorio is available at https://youtu.be/bR0cEOTpYSk or just the Hallelujah Chorus, is on https://youtu.be/IUZEtVbJT5c. If you want something lighter, you might listen to Mark Lowry’s Mary did You Know? Whatever you do, take time to meditate on Isaiah 9:6-7 to remind you of the true focus for Christmas.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Lord, help me remember in the all the preparations for this season’s celebrations that the greatest gift you have given us is the resurrected Jesus Christ who died for our sins. Amen
WORSHIP: