December 25: A Child Is Born To Us

Scripture
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.
-Isaiah 9:6-7

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. This is how God chose to enter the world, not with power or spectacle, but through humility and vulnerability. On Christmas Day we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the One who came to save His people and to dwell with them. He is Immanuel, God with us, not distant or removed, but present in our world and in our lives.

Through Isaiah, God tells us more about who this child would be. He would be called Wonderful Counselor, reminding us that God does not leave us to navigate life on our own. By His Spirit, Jesus leads us, guides us, and comforts us. He is not only aware of our struggles, He walks with us through them, offering wisdom and grace for each step.

This child is also called Mighty God and Everlasting Father. The baby laid in a manger was no less than God Himself, the King of Kings who chose nearness over distance. Jesus later made this clear when He said that to see Him is to see the Father. In Christ, we see the heart of God revealed, full of mercy, faithfulness, and love for His creation.

Isaiah calls Him the Prince of Peace, and promises that His rule will be marked by fairness, justice, and peace without end. While chaos swirls all around us and the world still bears the weight of sin and brokenness, we live with hope. The day is coming when Jesus will return, when He will make all things new and set right everything that sin and rebellion have damaged.

Today we celebrate His birth with gratitude, and we look forward with confidence to the day when His Kingdom is fully revealed.

Reflection
1. Which name of Jesus in this passage do you most need to lean into right now, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, or Prince of Peace, and why?

2. How does remembering that Jesus is Immanuel, God with you, shape the way you face the joys or challenges of this season?

3. In what ways can you live today with hope and trust in Christ’s promise to make all things new, even as you wait for His Kingdom to be fully revealed?

Prayer
Invite Jesus to be your Wonderful Counselor today, asking Him to guide your thoughts, decisions, and conversations with wisdom and grace. Thank Him for coming near as Immanuel, choosing to dwell with us, and ask for a deeper awareness of His presence in both the joy and the quiet moments of this day.