Active Theology

“For to us a child is born,
   to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
   and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6, ESV)

I’ve always loved being outside at night and pausing to look up at the stars. When I was in college, I would do late night workouts with my roommates at Memorial Stadium in Manhattan, KS. My favorite part was the moment the workout ended because I would lay in the middle of the field and stare at the stars. This act of pausing for a moment has remained through the years. Sometimes when I take out the trash at night I will take a second to look up at the stars before I go back inside.

Every time I look up into the night sky, I feel so small compared to the vast expanse of the universe. Honestly, sometimes it freaks me out to think about how small I am. Other times, looking up into the night sky puts me in a place of awe and wonder. When I could get swallowed up by a feeling of insignificance, I instead feel so comforted that the Lord knows me, cares for me, and loves me. 

In Isaiah 9:6, the prophet gives four titles to the coming Messiah, including Mighty God.  We also have Isaiah 7:14 that says, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

The Mighty God that puts me into a state of awe and wonder is the same One that has entered into our world and is called “God with us”.

The incarnation is an incredible event steeped in mystery. The Lord humbled himself (Phil. 2:5-7) and stepped into human brokenness in order to write the next chapter in human history. Jesus entered the world as a baby, ushered in a new era in the Kingdom of God, and decisively dealt with sin and death by his death and resurrection. 

It’s a lot to take in. So I simply encourage you to take a second and marvel at this great act of love, compassion, and mercy. God sees you, knows you, and loves you. Despite how small you may feel or how hard life can be sometimes, I pray that you take comfort in the good news of Christmas this year. 

Pray: Father, thank you for the gift of your Son. I pray that this act of love and compassion would bring me hope this season. Thank you for your plan for salvation and to make all things new. Amen. 

Song: “Silent Night (Smile in the Mystery)” by John Mark McMillan

Craig is a worship pastor at Wallula Christian Church and the creator of Active Theology. He loves coffee dates with his wife, reading, and riding his bike. A few of his favorite things are third wave coffee, vanilla ice cream, and plain t-shirts.