Jesse Tree Devotional for December 13th

December 13

More than a Babe

Today's Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 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, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 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.

Without that burning ball of flame 93 million miles away, we would live in the inky, barren blackness of cold, forever night. Remember what that felt like? I do. I remember life before You, when I lived in the land of the chilling shadows of death. The hopelessness of my existence carved out an aching, dark hollow in the pit of my being.

This is the season where houses and lamp posts and shop windows twinkle, bedecked in strands of shimmering lights. We drive around in the blackness to gaze on this festival of flickering bulbs. But the coming of that babe in a manger floods our entire universe with glorious light! The Child born to us is so much more than a babe—You are our God, our Counselor, the brilliant Floodlight of our World. You are our dawn. And the Son never felt so warm.

Lord, the Light has dawned! I step out of the cold shadows of death and bask in the radiant warmth of You, luminous Father and our Prince of Peace!