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Immanuel God with Us


“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23, NASB)
In these verses Matthew was quoting the prophet Isaiah, who seven hundred years earlier had foretold the birth of Jesus Christ. “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). 
Immanuel. God with us.
God with us. I have read these words often. So often, that they have become familiar. So familiar, that I ask myself: Have I lost the awe of what they really mean?
Immanuel. God with us.
This morning I decided to stop and ponder like Mary did.
God with us. 
How can this be? 
The God of creation, who spoke the universe into being, Who hung the stars on nothing and knows them by name. Who created the earth and all that is in it. 
The One who is, and was, and is to come. The Great I AM. The Most High over all the earth. 
God who is light, and in whom there is no darkness at all. The light of the world. 
The heavens declare His glory  and the skies display the work of His Hands.
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Sovereign, Immortal, All Sufficient, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Infinite, Incomprehensible, Self Existent...Immanuel God with us!
God so awesome and yet He loved the world so much, He sent His Only Son to earth as a babe in a manger. The sinless One. Born to die and rise from the dead so we could have eternal life. 
Immanuel God with us.
Dear Christian, we have the greatest message of hope to give a hurting and dark world. Don't waste your time fighting the greeting. Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. What does it matter? Surely God does not need us to defend Him? 
Instead let us go out and do what He asked of us. 
When Jesus was asked what was the most important commandment, He replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39 (NLT)
'Tis the season dear reader to show the love of God who came down to us. So don't hold back. Make the phone call, write the card, give the gift, share the cookies, whatever it takes to show the world the love of Our God. 
And then tell them of the hope you have because of...
Immanuel God with us.
Remember we love because He first loved us.
A very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

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