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 NIV
Today
in Sunday school our conversation took several interesting turns.
Several times during the class we discussed particular challenges
faced by class members. Mitch (our teacher) always allows ample time
for such discussions—allowing them to take priority over the
lessons. In regards to the lessons, we discussed Emmanuel as the
great light of God. A diverse variety of applications does not deny
the absolute nature of this light. Rather, the realities of
different epochs refract that light differently. Thus, Moses
faithfully applied the light of God as he devised the ethical code
(rules and regs) which included numerous stipulations that are not
in force today. Likewise, faithfully applying God's light as it
applies to us today may not apply to later epochs facing different
realities. In other words, the love of God is not locked-in to any
one epoch's unique refraction of it. In fact, to strive to so lock
it in can be a form of idolatry. In this sense one continuing aspect
of salvation can be fresh understandings of what constitutes holy
structures. One lesson from the Upper Room discussed
how Joseph initially considered divorcing Mary. We discussed briefly
what would have been the implications if Jesus had been raised by a
single mother. Would the Lord's Pray begin “Our Father (Daddy)”
or some other way?
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