INCREASE
08th Dec 2021
Isaiah 9:2 declares prophetically, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light” and continues with the familiar words about the coming Messiah, “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.”
It is the word “Increase” that has really impacted me this year. When John is describing his experience of Jesus in John 1:16 he states, “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.” Jesus starts with giving us the blessing of sins forgiven, but then keeps on blessing us over and over again.
In Psalm 84 we read about those who have set their hearts on pilgrimage, in verse 7 it declares, “They go from strength to strength till each appears before God in Zion.” A life committed to following Jesus and living in His presence is a life that goes from “strength to strength.”
2 Corinthians chapter 3 contrasts the fading glory that Moses experienced after he returned from meeting God on Sinai, with the glory that we receive as we turn our faces to His glory. Verse 18 states, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.” Another promise of increase in our lives when we look to Jesus.
The Isaiah prophecy states, “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.” Here again we are promised peace that keeps increasing and not diminishing.
Another verse that came to mind was Proverbs 4:18, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.”
As I read those words from Isaiah 9 I realised that when we invite Jesus to be the Lord of our lives, He brings increase into every area of our lives. It is peace and more peace, one blessing after another, we go from strength to strength and from glory to glory.
Let the light of Jesus fill you with everything you need this Christmastide. These are challenging times, but He is your all sufficient One.
by Charles Sibthorpe
