“Isaiah: A Child Is Born” - Isaiah 9:1-7 - Devotional

 November 21st, 2021

Devotional

“Isaiah: A Child Is Born” - Isaiah 9:1-7

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This week we celebrate Christ the King Sunday. We do not often think of kings today, especially in America.

A King has Sovereignty - in other words, they have absolute power. While a king may surround himself with those who may advise, the king has the ultimate decision regarding what is best. 

A King may be Worshipped - especially during Biblical times, when people believed the kings to be gods with special powers. The people would enter into the king’s chamber and fall on their face out of respect and fear.

In the books of 1 and 2 King the history of Israel’s kings are given, and not all of them were good. Some were described as evil - often because they let pride control how they behaved or didn’t have morals. They leaned on their own understanding instead of turning to God.

The Gospels celebrate the Triumphal entry of Jesus (on Palm Sunday) as a time when the people ushered him in to be their King. Only those who greeted him thought that he was only to be an earthly king - not our eternal Savior. So they greeted him as they would any other earthly king - with a great celebration. But this was not the way that Jesus was to live into his power - a power that no other person had ever known. Instead, he chose to sit on a beast of burden, and in doing so showed us his strength and dignity. 

Scriptures to Consider

Psalm 118: 22-29

Mark 11: 1-11

Quotes for Reflection

“The Kingdom of God is a kingdom of paradox, where through the ugly defeat of a cross, a holy God is utterly glorified. Vicky comes through defeat; healing through brokenness; finding self through losing self.” - Charles Colson

“Before we can pray, ‘Thy kingdom come’, we must be willing to pray ‘My kingdom go.’” - Alan Redpath

“If you do not wish for His Kingdom, do not  pray for it. But if you do, you myst do more than pray for it; you must work for it.” - John Ruskin

Questions

How does Isaiah point out that Christ is King?

How do we surrender our will and way to Christ the King?

How do we honor Christ as King in our lives?

Notes:

Adapted from “The Attributes of God” for Wesley Foundation at Penn State by Karen Bunting Urbanski. Adapted by Rev Michelle Bodle.