ChristmasReading2022A - Flipbook - Page 34
Everlasting Father
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, Everlas ng Father… ISAIAH 9:6
The third descrip on of the Messiah from Isaiah 9 is “Everlas ng
Father.” The Messiah will come as a father-type. In ancient Israel, the
father was responsible for the life of the family. He provided what they
needed and protected them from what would destroy them. The word
“Everlas ng” points to this Messiah’s faithfulness through space and
me performing the du es of a father.
David, in one of his Psalms, sees God as a father who desires to move
past anger to compassion. God is a
divine Father compassionate toward
His children. Note especially the last
In Christ, you are
verse.
not an orphan.
The Lord is compassionate and
You are
gracious, slow to anger, abounding in
love. He will not always accuse, nor
Someone’s child.
will he harbor his anger forever; he
does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our
iniqui es. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is
his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so
far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has
compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who
fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are
dust.Psalm 103:8-14
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When Jesus comes into the world, He will show us how God is Father.
One par cular passage of note is John 14:18 where Jesus says: “I will
not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Jesus comes in the
capacity of a family-maker. He not only connects to The Father, but to
one another.
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DAY Sixteen: December 13 - Tuesday