WHAT’S IN A CHRISTMAS NAME?
Another year has rapidly gone by. It seems like just a month ago that Christmas was upon us and 2016 was rushing in and we all had wonderful expectations for the coming year. Prayer was being raised to Heaven for grace and hope in the coming year. Now the year is drawing to a close and 2017 is peeping around the corner. However, regardless of our thoughts on the New Year, it is always ushered in by Christmas. What a beautiful way to end one year and to look forward to the next.
Christmas is not, as some would say, a secular holiday. It is a biblical treasure and its meaning is explained over and over in the Holy Word of God. Our Heavenly Father is very purposeful in describing the varied components in His plan that constitute the Christmas story from the immaculate birth to the crucifixion of the Lamb of God who was born to die for the sins of man.
In His descriptive purpose God tells us that the name of the One of whom Christmas is about is a special name. It is more than “Joseph’s son”, more than Mary’s son”, more than “Jesus, the Savior of the world”. God said His name shall be called “WONDERFUL”. WONDERFUL! That is who He is and what He is. His name shall be called “COUNSELOR”. He is my Counselor. He is that voice in the darkest night of my fears that says to my soul, “Be Still”. In my most trying hour He says to my anguishing heart “Fear Not”. He says to my doubting mind “I am with you always”. He says to my sinning nature “Repent and Confess” to his waiting ears “Forgive me for I have sinned”. His name shall be called “THE MIGHTY GOD”. Thank you, Lord, for who you are for to my accuser you are the Mighty God who is greater than my mightiest enemy. He gives me victory always. His name shall be called “THE EVERLASTING FATHER”. He is my Everlasting Heavenly Father who loves me enough to hold me when I need holding, encouraging me when I need encouraging. He loves me enough to discipline me when I am wrong and always with a heart of love. His name shall be called “THE PRINCE OF PEACE”. Oh how there has been in my life and I am sure in yours as well, in our endeavor to walk the walk of faith with the Lover of My Soul, that we have done so many things opposite of “running well” and it breaks our hearts. How many times has our enemy told us that God doesn’t love us and that we aren’t in His favor only to have our Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God and Everlasting Father and the very Prince of Peace speak into our brokenness and raise us up AGAIN! Oh what a name. It is in His name that we truly are made aware of the NAME OF CHRISTMAS…EMMANUEL (GOD WITH US).
Merry Christmas! Worship His Name this glorious Christmas season.
Bro. Glenn