A Destined Child

December 16

(Luke 2:33-35a NIV) "The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. {34} Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, {35} so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed."

(Job 12:13-25 NIV) "To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his. {14} What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man he imprisons cannot be released. {15} If he holds back the waters, there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land. {16} To him belong strength and victory; both deceived and deceiver are his. {17} He leads counselors away stripped and makes fools of judges. {18} He takes off the shackles put on by kings and ties a loincloth around their waist. {19} He leads priests away stripped and overthrows men long established. {20} He silences the lips of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders. {21} He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty. {22} He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light. {23} He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them. {24} He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he sends them wandering through a trackless waste. {25} They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards."

(Daniel 2:20-22 NIV) "Praise be to the name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are his. {21} He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. {22} He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him."

Jesus was born with a destiny. Our sovereign Lord had a plan for His life. Christ would cause many to either rise or fall. He still does this in our world today -- many rise or fall based upon their knowledge of Christ. Jesus would also be a sign that would be “spoken against”. When He grew up, He shook the religious world so hard that the religionists conspired with the State to eliminate Him. People today still try to eliminate Him. The name of Jesus still threatens the powers that be and our precious status quo. There is no neutral ground when it comes to the Lord. Secularists try desperately to rid the public square of His name. Sinners hide in darkness to avoid His light. The very mention of His name still reveals what lies in our hearts. What does Jesus reveal about the thoughts of your heart? Will you rise or fall? God is sovereign and can change your destiny. Bow down before Him this Christmas. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day