“ALMIGHTY GOD”

 Advent Devotional 2 – Week 1
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be His shoulders. And He 
will be called -- Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

In 2014 Brenda and I will celebrate our 33rd anniversary as a married couple. Of all the fond memories of our honeymoon trip, all those years ago, there is one that is not so great. The afternoon we left our beach honeymoon to head back home, we were both so sunburned that we were literally feeling ill. I saw on the map what appeared to be a shorter way home through the mountains. Shorter? Not so much!!! About three hours in to this fiasco we were both so sick we were ready to just pull over and crash for a few hours on the side of the road. The problem: a “side of the road” was nonexistent on those mountain roads.

Suddenly, rounding a bend, we came upon a small motel that looked like it would probably register about a 0.25-star on a motel rating list. We took it! We were so sick we didn’t unload suitcases or even change clothes. Literally afraid of what we’d find if we pulled back the bedding, we slept fully clothed and even left our shoes on – just incase we found ourselves living out a psycho-horror flick at Bates Motel or something. Only the next morning when Brenda went into the restroom and shrieked loudly did we know the full extent of our failed motel choice. Those poor, scared cockroaches scattered everywhere!

In almost 33 years of marriage, I have managed to pull off some unforgettably dumb things. This was one of those experiences, however, that we will never be able to forget, no matter how hard we may try!!! And for some reason, it’s still my fault. Hmmm...

Wasn’t it the God of the universe who came to earth and spent His first night in far less than 1-star accommodations? Wasn’t it a stable and a feeding trough?

• What a welcome to the Creator of all that is, or ever will be. 
• What a welcome to the One whose awesome holiness cannot and will not co-exist with sin! 
• What a welcome to the One whose might destroyed the world of sin with a great FLOOD! 
• What a welcome to the One whose passionate desire was to come to this world and become the sacrifice that would overcome the sin of the world instead of destroying the world again! 

In John 16:33 Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Isaiah was right – HE is the Almighty God who overcame the world with love and HIS presence.

Oh, He has given us plenty of presents and blessings over the years too. But it’s His presence (Immanuel, God with us), even at this very moment, that makes all the difference for us as His children. It turns out, the greatest displays of His might are His grace and His mercy. Both were a result of His mighty presence.

 Bask in the presence of His grace! Spend time with Him in His Living Word.


 Suggested Reading:    Exodus 15;   Psalm 104;   John 3;   Hebrews 1