JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Isaiah 9:7.

Many of us are familiar with the prophecy concerning Jesus in verse 6. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.

When Jesus was born, He was God’s greatest gift to the world. Grace and redemption came through Jesus.

Verse 7 reveals what His Kingdom will look like when He comes again.

“Of the greatness 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.”

Can you imagine a world with no violence, or bloodshed or war? The prophet Isaiah envisioned it under the rule and reign of Jesus. What a day of blessing that will be!

This Light Reflection inspires us to know Jesus as our King and Prince of Peace in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to embrace the peace that God offers us through Jesus Christ.

The prophet Isaiah described the coming Messiah as the Prince of Peace. Jesus becomes our source of peace when we trust Him as our Savior and Lord. He will establish peace among the nations in the future, but right now, He is our pathway to peace with God through forgiveness of sins and the promise of a hopeful future with Him.

That same prophet said in Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.”

We can trust Jesus to be the anchor that keeps us together when our world feels like it is falling apart. He will be our source of hope, our reason for praise, and our place to turn for unfailing love.

Take the Daily Challenge to embrace God’s peace on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the purpose of Jesus to be our Prince of Peace.

One of the reasons that Jesus came to earth 2,000 years ago was to remove our hostility toward God. Adam and Even disobeyed Him in the Garden, and we have been living with the fallout ever since.

Then came the birth of Jesus. God was making a way for us to live at peace with Him. Listen to the chorus of the angels when the birth of Jesus was announced to the shepherds:

“Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” That’s good news of great joy for the world.

Romans 5:1 tells us how we can live in peace with God. “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The grace of Jesus is able to bring us peace with God, peace with others, and peace within ourselves.

Focusing on Jesus as our Prince of Peace gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Redemption, today’s Freedom Phrase is based on Isaiah 9:6.

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.

Jesus was born 2,000 years ago as God’s gift to the world. Those who follow Him know Him in these various ways.

As our Wonderful Counselor, Jesus leads us in the path of God’s wisdom.

As our Mighty God, Jesus is our source of strength and is worthy of our worship.

As our Everlasting Father, Jesus is our faithful provider forever.

As our Prince of Peace, Jesus is our Mediator with God the Father. He bridges the gap to give us peace with God. 

Through Jesus, we are set free to receive the gift of God’s grace and enjoy His presence forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God examines Jesus as our Prince of Peace.

The prophet Isaiah foretold a time when a child would be born and a son would be given to us.

According to Isaiah 9:6, one of the ways we could identify this child is that He would be called “Prince of Peace.”

This description refers to the end of armed conflict between nations and the end of hostility toward God.

War and violence are part of this broken world tainted by sin. But Isaiah was inspired by the Holy Spirit to envision a day to come when all bloodshed will stop through the reign of the Messiah.

Isaiah 2:4 says, “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”

This will happen in a favorable spiritual climate where the people walk in the light of the Lord.

Knowing Jesus as our Prince of Peace is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from Isaiah 9:6, which says about Jesus, “He will be called….Prince Of Peace.”

Verse 7 goes on to say, “Of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end.”

Under His righteous leadership, true and lasting peace will be established. While the world yearns for the peace that Jesus offers, it does not yet experience this reality. That is because we need to acknowledge peace on His terms. Welcoming the influence of Jesus as our Savior and Lord invites peace. But peace is elusive as long as we push Jesus away.

On a personal level, we can experience the gift of God’s peace this Christmas, by embracing the presence of Jesus.

Romans 5:1 says, “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Receiving Jesus as our Prince of Peace is a vital relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Jesus would be born as God’s gift to us.

This promise appears in Isaiah 9:6-“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.”

Jesus is the expression of God’s grace. He is not a trophy to earn, but a gift to receive. Over and over in the Bible, we are told that God’s grace is a gift to receive and is necessary for eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8 and 9 says, “It is by grace you have been saved through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”

And Romans 6:23 says that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This Christmas, there is not a more complete package with greater, long-lasting value than to receive the gift of God’s grace in the person of Jesus Christ.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

The promise that Jesus would be born as God’s gift to us is a lesson of faith worth remembering.