Isaiah 9:6-7 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. 7 Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
There is a lot in this passage... but what I want to focus in is the last sentence in verse 7.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
The word zeal, when compared back to the Hebrew word it was translated from, means "jealous, jealousy." What was God jealous for, and who was He jealous of? The Bible teaches that God is jealous for His people (Deuteronomy 6:15). He wants us... He wants to be the "center of our universe." He wants us to adore Him, think about Him, love Him, get to know Him, learn of Him and do things according to His will.
What is God jealous of? All those things that prevent us from placing Him first and foremost in our lives. There are the usual suspects, television, the pursuit of wealth and self-actualization, etc. For me, it is the career ambitions (newspaper & radio), recreation time, sports and TV. All are fine and good, until they come between me and my devotion time with God.
How jealous is God? Enough to give His only begotten Son to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16). How jealous was Christ? Enough to submit Himself to being born in a stable to an impoverished couple, living as a homeless man while teaching the people, then dying one of the most horrible deaths for our sins (Romans 5:8).
God is jealous for us. The question then becomes, how jealous are we for God. I fear that God is so faithful, many times we take Him for granted. To do so is a sin, and we must repent of that sin and get back to centering our lives around God. That is what He wants, and that is what He has wanted from the beginning.
The Christmas story only exists because God wanted us so much, that He came to earth in the form of a man so that He could lead the perfect example and die for our sins. God wants us... what are we willing to do to live for Him?
1 comment:
I'm going to steal a few of these thoughts. :-O And please say hi to your family for me. -Bobby
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