“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14, NIV)
The above scripture has been spoken at countless Christmas programs, Christmas plays, and written down on Christmas décor and in Christmas cards. It is a quintessential statement of what God planned to do long before Bethlehem was ever known as a birthplace of a Messiah. The verse was assigned in the gospel of Matthew to speak of the birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:23). The words in Isaiah and Matthew remind most Christians of Advent Candles and Christmas decorations. However, the words of the verse above leads one to contemplate a different reality as well. According to this verse, the Messiah who is born to the virgin would be called “Immanuel”. This Hebrew word, Immanuel”, means “God with us.” In Jesus’ life and witness, we can see what it was like when God is with us. This verse declares for all time that one very special part of God desires to be with you!
Have you ever pondered what it means that God wants to be with you?
Several decades ago, I was at a Christmas gathering when a young woman named Terry commented to me, “My father can’t be with us this Christmas. He’s got to work today. I sure wish I could spend time with him.” She was shocked when I said, “Let’s go find him!” I knew where he worked. I had visited him there before, so I was honestly offering to stop by and wish him a Merry Christmas. Terry was shocked that I had offered, but I was adamant. “Let’s go” I told her, “Time is wasting”! We set off into the snowy night to find him at work.
Twenty minutes later, we found John in the break room alone. He was on his shift break. We jumped into the room and together said, “Merry Christmas!” I thought he was going to have a heart attack! He didn’t know anyone else was in the building! We had a wonderful fifteen minutes together telling stories and Christmas memories, then we prayed and bid our leave. As we left, the father had a smile on his face. The daughter smiled and shed tears all the way back to the party! She also confessed during the drive, “I bet Dad didn’t even know how much I wanted to be with him tonight.”
A few years later, I ran into Terry again. She gave me a big hug. I asked how her family was doing. Then, I asked how her father was doing, and she teared up. With tears dripping down her cheeks, she mentioned that her father had died that year. I offered my condolences. She, however, started smiling brightly. She said, “That Christmas we stopped in at his work is one of the best Christmas memories I have. Out of all the moments in my life, I so cherish that moment and the look on Dad’s face! Especially, now!”
Terry’s father had no idea how much his daughter missed him that Christmas long ago. Today, she misses him so very much. She would love to spend another Christmas with him! And Terry is not alone. Many people will miss someone this Christmas. They long to spend just a little more time together. As you consider these last few sentences, remember that God too longs to spend time with faithful souls. Even the Savior’s name includes this desire. Immanuel means “God with us!” God wants to be with us. God longs to spend time with you!
Take some time this Christmas to spend time with God. Say some words in prayer. Listen for God’s response. Enjoy some quiet moments considering how your life has been blessed because of a wonderful birth in Bethlehem long ago. With Jesus, God was with our world in a unique and powerful way. With God’s Spirit in your life, God is able to visit with you even in this very minute. Will you take some time to enjoy being “with” God? How is God with you right now?
If you want to feel God’s presence even more, spend some time with someone who is lonely, needs love, is hurting, or needs Jesus tonight. God will be with you throughout. He may be urging you to say something or may desire that you just listen for a while! It might be the best moment of your life; you never know!
Don’t have a happy Christmas; have a blessed Christmas! These are way better when God is with you!
Have you ever pondered what it means that God wants to be with you?
Several decades ago, I was at a Christmas gathering when a young woman named Terry commented to me, “My father can’t be with us this Christmas. He’s got to work today. I sure wish I could spend time with him.” She was shocked when I said, “Let’s go find him!” I knew where he worked. I had visited him there before, so I was honestly offering to stop by and wish him a Merry Christmas. Terry was shocked that I had offered, but I was adamant. “Let’s go” I told her, “Time is wasting”! We set off into the snowy night to find him at work.
Twenty minutes later, we found John in the break room alone. He was on his shift break. We jumped into the room and together said, “Merry Christmas!” I thought he was going to have a heart attack! He didn’t know anyone else was in the building! We had a wonderful fifteen minutes together telling stories and Christmas memories, then we prayed and bid our leave. As we left, the father had a smile on his face. The daughter smiled and shed tears all the way back to the party! She also confessed during the drive, “I bet Dad didn’t even know how much I wanted to be with him tonight.”
A few years later, I ran into Terry again. She gave me a big hug. I asked how her family was doing. Then, I asked how her father was doing, and she teared up. With tears dripping down her cheeks, she mentioned that her father had died that year. I offered my condolences. She, however, started smiling brightly. She said, “That Christmas we stopped in at his work is one of the best Christmas memories I have. Out of all the moments in my life, I so cherish that moment and the look on Dad’s face! Especially, now!”
Terry’s father had no idea how much his daughter missed him that Christmas long ago. Today, she misses him so very much. She would love to spend another Christmas with him! And Terry is not alone. Many people will miss someone this Christmas. They long to spend just a little more time together. As you consider these last few sentences, remember that God too longs to spend time with faithful souls. Even the Savior’s name includes this desire. Immanuel means “God with us!” God wants to be with us. God longs to spend time with you!
Take some time this Christmas to spend time with God. Say some words in prayer. Listen for God’s response. Enjoy some quiet moments considering how your life has been blessed because of a wonderful birth in Bethlehem long ago. With Jesus, God was with our world in a unique and powerful way. With God’s Spirit in your life, God is able to visit with you even in this very minute. Will you take some time to enjoy being “with” God? How is God with you right now?
If you want to feel God’s presence even more, spend some time with someone who is lonely, needs love, is hurting, or needs Jesus tonight. God will be with you throughout. He may be urging you to say something or may desire that you just listen for a while! It might be the best moment of your life; you never know!
Don’t have a happy Christmas; have a blessed Christmas! These are way better when God is with you!