“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, ‘God with us.’” Matthew 1:23

Immanuel – God With Us

Can you imagine a God that is so powerful that He spoke the world into existence? A God that is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end? A God “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11)? A God that when He shows Himself in His glory, men fall on their faces, including John who knew Him when He was here on earth in the flesh (Revelation 1:17)?

Yet, this same God loves us so very much that He humbled Himself so that He would be like us for a time on earth. This same God humbled Himself even more when He shed His blood on the cross so that our sins can be forgiven and we can have full access to our Father God in heaven. When Jesus died on that cross for me and for you, the veil in the temple separating the Holiest of Holies from access by man was torn in two from the top to the bottom (Matthew 27:51).

I ask myself, if all of this is true, and I KNOW that it is, why can I wander so easily? How can I become too busy to spend time at His feet? Why do I neglect to do the things that I know He has called me to do? And most importantly, how can I take Him for granted? (To take for granted is to expect someone or something to be always available to serve in some way without thanks or recognition; to value someone or something too lightly.)

During this season that we are celebrating Immanuel, God with us, I vow to repent when I start to wander and get caught up in the things of earth. My heart is to live in the joy of my salvation and all that Jesus Christ did for me (for us) because of His great love for us. Will you join me?

Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me when I take you for granted. I pray that you would cleanse my heart and fill it with Your joy and grace and peace and love. I pray that I would be obedient in all that You ask me to do that I may glorify my Father in heaven. In Jesus’ holy and precious name, Amen.