By Greg Yee, Superintendent, PacNWC
God with Us – Emmanuel. When I get past my religious habituations, the idea of Emmanuel takes my breath away. Our ancient prophet longingly declared amidst intense international turmoil that a Savior would come. Under high political and spiritual pressure, the oracle went to public spaces and the courts of kings declaring that this savior would be our Prince of Peace – Everlasting, Wonderful, and Mighty! He would come to save us and bring hope and peace to our broken world. Come LORD Jesus, come, our Savior and Prince of Peace, come!
Church, as you enter this Advent Season and walk through our annual rhythms of remembering and celebrating the coming of our Prince, I urge you to take time to camp on the everything -changing truth of God with Us. Spend time on God’s resolute and passionate movement toward us; to be with us.
Our ancient prophet emphasized two main thrusts with this. The prophet first speaks to his contemporaries that were distressed and low on hope. Isaiah wants them to know that God sees them, has not forgotten them, and will come. They desperately needed to change the prevailing despair. And day after day he speaks boldly at this. In this way, I believe he speaks to us today as well. We are reminded everyday of the pain and suffering in our communities and around the world. God with Us, Wonderful Counselor Mighty God, come and be with us who are suffering: our intimate losses, life-draining diseases, frustrating un/underemployment, our ever-present brokenness and sin. We join creation in groaning. Holy Spirit comfort the broken-hearted and bring Your healing balm. You are here with us. You move to our broken hearts.
The prophet also vividly paints that, with zeal, God will begin a reality where His righteousness and justice will never end (Isa 9:6-7). It is a call to treat people rightly with fairness, generosity, and equity. He repeatedly and extensively spoke in those public and royal places declaring that God’s people should care for the poor and needy, commit to follow God’s ways, and pursue economic and social justice. He calls us to not just convenient charity or easy discipleship, but a whole-life commitment to radical generosity both relationally and materially. Isaiah loudly declares God with Us is by nature a movement outward. It’s a movement into our broken world.
That Creator would be concerned about a sinner like me – amazing. That He would choose to literally take on flesh and walk on this earth – amazing. God with Us is truly the ultimate move. I pray God’s peace this Advent as He meets you in your brokenness and as you share the peace of your life in Christ with others. I pray God’s hope as you move into your communities and, with zeal, live out God’s righteousness and justice. I pray God’s joy over you as you celebrate the coming of our Messiah. Christmas blessings!
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 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. (Isaiah 9:6-7)