Power and fame bring out the worst in most people. The landscape is littered with child actors who became total misfits, celebrities who turn into their own solar systems, and with politicians who want to run everyone else’s lives even while failing to manage their own. It’s not surprising it’s called a “lust” for absolute power. Lord Acton once famously said,
Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
While the corrupting influence of power is kind of a truism among humanity, there is one notable exception: Jesus Christ.
Famous as a baby.
Famous, period.
Arguably the most influential person ever to walk the planet.
Even for those who don’t regard Him as Savior.
What other 33-year-olds whose work span lasted only three years had such a lasting impact on earth, even nearly 2000 years after death?
Absolute power.
Ah, but absolutely perfect, absolutely just, absolutely benevolent, absolutely holy.
This is what was prophesied about the Messiah in Isaiah 9: 6 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. 7 Of the increase 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.
Reflect today on what sets Jesus Christ apart in terms of absolute power.
For insight, read Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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Join me for Advent 2016 Devotionals called Timeless: the Message of Christmas for All Ages beginning November 27, 2106. Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love will be ours as we look into the Word, see the face of our Lord Jesus, and experience restoration in His presence. His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless.
Advent began November 27, 2016. If you’re already signed up on my Home Page sidebar to receive posts, you’ll get the Advent devotionals automatically. If you haven’t signed up, today is a great day to do so. Advent and Lenten devotionals remain among my most popular offerings. You don’t want to miss this great way to prepare your heart for the true meaning of Christmas!
One of the surest ways to recapture the wonder, the timeless wonder, of the Christmas story is to recall what actually happened from the perspective of power. Until the birth of Christ, Death held the knife at our necks for every man, woman, and child. It was always there, all the time. Lurking in the background. Waiting for the next kill.
You marveled at God existing before anything had been created!
From the moment of the fall of man when the consequences of our rebellion caught up with us as mortality, God’s plan was already in motion. Before sin, the plan was a closed book waiting to unfold in earthly time. After sin entered our picture and human death along with it (
I’d like to think He does. Not in a sense of gloating, but as a victor delights in the victory itself…particularly when it’s revealed that the beneficiaries of that victory are others. And in this case, we are His children. 
Isaiah 9:6 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.
ohn wasn’t being a whiner or a poor sport. In some regards it was more like PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) in which the battle had been fought, the hope had been real all these years! But the victory was nowhere to be seen. Everywhere John looked, it was victory denied. Death and oppression would rule the day… and I guess, that was that. No hope for the consolation of Israel. No hope for restoration of people to their God. It’s no surprise that he weeps.
Which came first? Materialism or the secularism?
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it…9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God– 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.