As Christmas draws nigh in this tumultuous 2020, it’s time to remember Him. It’s been a crazy year, to say the least: COVID-19, economic disruptions, travel bans, sicknesses, untimely deaths, an election like no other, and masks, masks, and more masks. It has seemed to be a year of hindrances on every side, or has it?
Listen to the prophetic utterance foretelling His birth, “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government [rule and reign] and peace There will be no end, . . . The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6–7 NKJV). As Jesus made His obscure entrance into the world via a stall in Bethlehem, Herod tried to kill him. The religious leaders feared and withstood Him. Rome opposed Him, but He was unhindered. He came; He lived; He showed us the way; He died (the Jewish religionist and hell itself thought they had won); He rose. Unhindered!
As the greatest religious system (the Jerusalem Jews) and the most powerful political empire on earth had Paul in prison to stop his blasphemous, seditious preaching of this risen Jesus being King, we read, “Then he [Paul] stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered” (Acts 28:30–31 NASB). Look at the last word: unhindered!
Prepare International is a travel ministry, moving through the nations multiplying leaders and laborers who make disciples of the Kingdom, except we can’t travel! The pandemic has utterly shut us down, hindered us, or has it? It’s all in how you see! We have had more time with our families than in the preceding 19 years, we’ve massively pushed our video production project and online training platform years ahead, we are launching a local internship that has been in our hearts for years, and above all, we’ve been before Him listening for His heart and will continue like never before. In a year of massive hindrances, unhindered!
What’s to celebrate this Christmas? Jesus has come; He’s won and is winning today! Unhindered! It’s time to celebrate. We are not hindered; we are the liberated Ones that heaven has assigned to play by another set of rules. The Lamb has won, unhindered!
