Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Emmanuel has Come to Us


“The Lord himself will give you the sign.  Look!  The virgin will conceive a child!  She will give birth to a son and will call him Emmanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).”  Isaiah 7:14

 

In the midst of all the Christmas songs we sang this season, there were a few words that grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let go and I’ve been pondering on them ever since.

 

“Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel has come to us!”

 

The God of the Universe, the one who hung the stars in space and called them each by name, who made the seas and all that is in them, the one who formed the dry land and the animals that roam it, who sets kings on thrones and holds the whole world in His hand HAS COME TO US!

 

How flippantly we sing words like this, how carelessly we live our lives with no thought that this Grand Conductor, this King of Kings knows us intimately, cares for us deeply and loves us so incredibly, has come to us! 

 

He was born in a lowly stable amidst dirty, smelly animals and the only ones who celebrated his birth were the lowest of the low.    “. . . There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.”  (Isaiah 53:7 NLT)  

 

His life was anything but trouble-free. “. . . ‘Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.’”  (Luke 9:57 NLT)

 

His death was our salvation.  “. . . For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.”  (Hebrews 9:22 NLT)

 

Through his sacrifice we have been delivered . . . set free . . . rescued . . . redeemed!

 

Wherever life finds you right now, hurting and broken or joyful and expectant, may you KNOW that the God of the Universe had you on His mind when He came.  He desires to redeem you, set you free, and give you HOPE.  You have only to ask . . .

 
Heavenly Father, 
Thank you for the gift of your Son.  May we live in the light of this gift all year long.  May we cherish and hold close to our hearts this precious truth . . . that You have come to US!

 

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