Wonderful Gift
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor… (Isaiah 9:6)
In the book of Isaiah, we find this prophecy of the coming Messiah. It’s from a familiar verse that we often see on Christmas cards.
WONDERFUL would be the ultimate leader, the kind we could trust and rely upon, the kind that would understand and help us, the kind that would bring great peace and joy to the earth. WONDERFUL would never grow weary of us or leave us. He would be our personal counselor. Instead of following a list of rules, we would have a friend to rely upon daily.
WONDERFUL came humbly so He could empathize with us. He came ordinary so He could understand and have compassion on us. He came healing so we could know the heart of the Father is for us to be well. He came multiplying so we could know the Kingdom of God is full of abundance. He came teaching, encouraging us to change our minds about the harsh legalism of religion. He gave us a beautiful picture of God’s LOVE, both strong and tender. He was willing to sacrifice for us because He had something so much better for us. A gift. The beautiful gift of the Holy Spirit living in us and through us.
Look at this prophecy also found in Isaiah:
On the land of my people will come up thorns and briers,
Yes, on all the happy homes in the joyous city;
Because the palaces will be forsaken,
The bustling city will be deserted.
The forts and towers will become lairs forever,
A joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks—
UNTIL the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,
And the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,
And the fruitful field is counted as a forest.
Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,
And righteousness remain in the fruitful field.
The work of righteousness will be peace,
And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
(Isaiah 32:13-17)
I highlighted the world UNTIL, because this prophecy explains that barrenness and hardships would be experienced by God’s people UNTIL something happened. Until the Spirit is poured out from on high. Then the wilderness becomes a fruitful field.
That something has happened. Acts 10:44 records this magnificent happening: that while Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The gift has been given.
As Christmas approaches, let’s be thankful for this wonderful GIFT that we’ve been given. In this world, there are trials, challenges, and hardships, but with the Holy Spirit we can walk through them unscathed with the effect of righteousness: quietness and assurance forever!
Celebrating our WONDERFUL gift!