The excerpt from Messiah used in today’s CSLI devotional is a familiar one from Isaiah 9:6.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
The music is beautiful and the promise so hopeful. Doesn’t it make you think “Come Lord Jesus!”? Government today is profoundly disappointing. It often attracts the dregs of society, despite the incredible wisdom we find in our Constitution. The John Adam’s quote has proven true in myriad ways: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
In Making Room, I wrote about how it might feel to celebrate Christmas as an unbeliever. What would it be like if the twinkling lights represented nothing at all? Do you pray for your secular friends especially in December?
How about for our politicians? Do you pray that they would repent and come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ? There are so many people that are behind the faces of our politicians. I cannot claim to have a heart of love towards these greedy enablers, but I am called to pray for them. I need to do better. I know that praying for a person (whether I like them or not) softens my heart to their needs. It’s miraculous actually. I have prayed for people (not politicians) who have conspired to hurt me and mine. God has filled me with compassion and softened my heart toward even those who wish me ill.
Digging Deeper:
Who do you need to pray for today?
Does it fill you with hope to know the end of the story? That the government will eventually rest on the shoulders of our Prince of Peace?
Love your meditations. Christmas blessings to the Jackson 5