How to Worship Through the Wonder of Christ’s Birth - The Crosswalk Devotional - December 24
How to Worship Through the Wonder of Christ’s Birth
By: Whitney Hopler
Bible Reading:
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6, NIV
Imagine getting a gift so incredible, so mind-blowing, that you’re overwhelmed. Maybe you gasp, maybe you cry, or maybe you just sit there, speechless. The people who learned about Jesus Christ’s birth on the first Christmas must have felt overwhelmed like that after learning that God had given the world the ultimate gift of a Savior.
Hundreds of years before the first Christmas, the prophet Isaiah described that gift – including awe-inspiring titles for Jesus that point to his future work in the world: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 invites you to worship through the wonder of Christ’s birth.
The first part of the verse, “to us a child is born, to us a son is given,” focuses on the humanity of Jesus. He was a real baby, born to a real mother, experiencing real life. This part may be the easiest for you to connect with, because it’s personal and comforting.
The titles that follow challenge you to move beyond seeing Jesus just as a baby in a manger, but as the powerful Son of God who saves and transforms you. Those titles show you how you can worship Christ in every single area of your life:
Wonderful Counselor: When you need God’s guidance for your decisions, you can ask Jesus and get the help you need. He isn’t just a good adviser; he’s a wonderful one. Christ can give you wisdom that cuts through the confusion of life in this fallen world and shows you the best path forward by walking with you as your personal guide. So, worship him by bringing your hardest decisions and deepest confusion to him with the trust that he will help you move forward well.
Mighty God: This title removes all doubt about Christ’s divinity. Jesus is much more than just a powerful messenger or a great teacher; he is God himself, who came to Earth to personally save humanity. Christ is mighty – he has unlimited power that he uses for good, loving purposes to redeem what has been broken by sin in the world. When you feel powerless or overwhelmed by a challenge, worship Jesus by relying on his mighty strength to help you overcome that challenge.
Everlasting Father: This title speaks to how Christ protects you and provides for you, like a good father does. While Jesus is God’s Son, he is also fully God, because he has perfect unity with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Jesus is part of the Heavenly Father who cares so well for you every day of your life. So, when you feel lonely or vulnerable, you can worship him by resting in his eternal, unchanging care.
Prince of Peace: Peace is not just the absence of conflict; it’s a spiritual wholeness that puts everyone and everything in creation in harmony with the Creator – which is what Christ does. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, gives you ultimate peace with God through his sacrifice for your sins. In this fallen world that’s full of stress, you can worship Christ by accepting the peace he offers, which is strong enough to help you overcome any challenges you face.
Jesus is so much more than just a baby born in Bethlehem. When you worship Christ as he’s described in Isaiah 9:6, you can’t help but be filled with overwhelming feelings of awe. Those feelings will inspire you to discover the wonder of God’s work in your life every day. True Christmas worship is something you can practice every day of the year, by seeking wisdom from the Counselor, finding strength in the Mighty God, resting in the Everlasting Father, and trusting the Prince of Peace to help you be calm and confident. Look at all Christ really is, and celebrate with wonder!
Intersecting Faith & Life:
As you consider how to worship through the wonder of Christ’s birth, reflect on these questions:
- Which of Christ's titles (Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, or Prince of Peace) do you personally need to focus on most this week, and why?
- What major decisions are you facing right now, and how can you trust Jesus to be your Wonderful Counselor for how to move forward well?
- The “child is born” that Isaiah 9:6 mentions is also the “Mighty God” it mentions. How does that change the way you approach prayer?
- What worries can you hand over to the Everlasting Father, with trust that he will meet your needs in those situations?
- Who can you forgive this week to worship Christ as the Prince of Peace by forgiving others as he has forgiven you?
Further Reading:
Matthew 1:23
John 14:6
Philippians 4:7
Colossians 1:15-17
Hebrews 13:8
How did today’s devotional speak to you? Share your thoughts in the Crosswalk Devotional discussion.
Photo Credit: Unsplash/David Beale
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