No Oppression!

December 17, 2020

No Oppression!

I am trying to get my heart in a good place for Christmas. 

There is no one person who is oppressing me or abusing me or harassing me right now.  And yet, there is something inside of me that feels oppressed or burdened or afflicted.  The oppression is coming not from an individual but from something bigger, something more complicated, something more sinister.

Because I cannot name a person, I am often left with a lack of clarity about the source of the oppression.  If I could point to my neighbor or the guy at the repair shop or someone in my family, it might be a little easier. 

Instead, I find myself sometimes feeling oppressed even while the Christmas carols are ringing their sweet melodies in my ears and the tinsel on the tree is sparkling before my eyes. 

One of the great promises of God was made to a people who felt burdened by life, weighed down by the expectations of others, and oppressed by power hungry leaders.  Their bodies, their minds, their hearts, and their souls were broken.               

In Isaiah 9:4 we hear; “For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken…”  The King of Kings is coming!  The burdens will come to an end!  A Savior will be born!  There will be no more oppression! 

The Son of God will deliver us and save us and rescue us.  The Son of God will come to release the shackles of abuse and lift the burden of oppression.  The Son of God will come as Mighty God.

In Isaiah 9:6 we hear God’s promise; “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

I need Jesus to be my Mighty God this Christmas.  I have had days where the burdens and the oppression and the afflictions have weighed heavy on me.  There have been some days when the weight causes my shoulders to droop and my head to bow. 

It would be easier to give up or give in than reach out my hand to our Mighty God.  I pray our powerful God will rescue and deliver and liberate me…and you.  I need our Mighty God to send the child born in Bethlehem to be my Mighty God. 

I imagine you know someone who needs to know the undeniable power and unmatchable strength of our Mighty God.  Take a moment during the next week to listen and care about their story of oppression, burden, and affliction.  Take a moment to pray for, and maybe even with, them for our Mighty God to give them strength. 

When they experience His power and deliverance they will take delight in the Lord.

Take delight in the Lord!

Doug