Lesson One • Wonderful Counselor
Devotion 5: Wonderful Christmastime
Pastor Noble Baird
Christmas is always an exciting time of year. Being in Michigan, we are blessed with all four seasons, two of which are usually filled with snow! For those of you who know me, I love music. One of the greatest privileges I have ever received is being able to worship on the worship team at church together with my wife, Haley. Growing up, my father and I have always listened to The Beatles. Sadly, my wife does not share the same love for them as my father and I do, but there is still time! In 1979, Paul McCartney wrote a song titled, “Wonderful Christmastime.” It is a song about coming together during Christmas and simply enjoying the wonderful season together.
By definition, wonderful means “to be excited.” In Matthew 1:20-25, we have the account of Joseph’s interaction with an angel of the Lord. Matthew writes, “But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” There is no doubt that this time in Joseph’s life was scary, frightful, painful, and then exciting and truly wonderful all at the same time! He finds his fiancé, Mary, pregnant. Then, he decides to end the engagement quietly; however, that is when God steps in, and he is given the wonderful news about Jesus.
The name “Wonderful Counselor” is only recorded once. It is in Isaiah 9:6. When we look at this account of the Christmas season, there is no doubt that it is truly a wonderful time! Joseph’s heartbreak was turned into exciting news about the truly wonderful Savior that was prophesied about for centuries! As we continue in this Christmas season (maybe you will even hear “Wonderful Christmastime” on the radio), I challenge you to take a step back and remember the truly wonderful season it is. Also, remember the Wonderful Counselor whose birth we celebrate during this time.