I want to begin by wishing you a very Merry Christmas from our family to yours! This year I have been reflecting more on the name Mary was to give Jesus – Emmanual. This name means “God with us.”
God with us. It’s easy to skim over that and move on to the more popular names and attributes of God; healer, love, friend, redeemer, savior, king, etc. However, take a moment and think about the implications of “God with us.” Even change it up to “God with you!”
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”
– Matthew 1:23 (NLT)
Though all of the other names and attributes of God are true and so important to remember, imagine all of those names and attributes but with God far away. We could have the unintended belief that the attributes of God are far away. The birth of Jesus changed all of that! Emmanual – God is with you!
Healing is with you.
Love is with you.
Redemption is with you.
Reconciliation is with you.
Salvation is with you.
It’s because of Jesus that God…is…with…YOU! All the time!
God is with you through every circumstance. Not only is God with you, but through Jesus being fully human in every way, God understands your every circumstance. No matter the circumstance you are going through God will never leave you, never forsake you, and as a matter of fact, God journeys with you.
May you brothers and sisters, see the very real presence of Emmanual.
I love you all and I look forward to continuing to watch you grow in the reality of God’s grace and love in your life. That you daily live in your true identity – a beloved child of God.
Grace and peace,
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