Isaiah 9:6-7 - For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given...

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah has more messianic prophecies than any other book in the Hebrew Bible. Augustine called Isaiah the "5th gospel". This famous passage was declared during the rise of the Assyrian dynasty. Israel would be reestablished, but not in the way that was expected: a child would be born. The Jewish leaders of the 1st Century were looking for a Messiah that would ride in on a white horse and set the Jews free from the Romans. Instead, a baby was brought into the world. In weakness and vulnerability, the child was born and nurtured to fulfill His God-given destiny - to establish and uphold God's true kingdom. The kingdom of God that began with the baby king has not stopped increasing ever since.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Luke 2:15-16 - Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

After the angel announced the coming of the Christ and a host of angels sang, there was the normal night sky. The shepherds could have just gone back to their business of watching sheep, but they were did something more profound: "Let's go to Bethlehem...". Many Christians have had a spiritual experience, but have they then gone to see what the Lord is doing in their generation? We have made the revealing of the Christ the end point, instead of the beginning of a journey. Now that you know that Christ is alive, what is God doing in your generation? Are you willing to hurry off to find it?

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse