Wednesday, December 17

God With Us

You probably know the Christmas story well. The Gospel writer Matthew tells us that before Mary was married to Joseph, an angel of the Lord appeared to her. The angel told her that God had chosen her among all the young women of the world and that she would have a child by means of the Holy Spirit. As difficult as it may have been for Mary to grasp and even impossible to believe, she agreed to do what God wanted. Later on she told Joseph. That didn’t go so well. Joseph was a godly man who did not want to openly dishonor Mary, so he considered divorcing her (breaking the engagement) quietly.

Before he did this an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told her to not be afraid and to go ahead as he planned and take Mary as his wife because what is created in her is from the Holy Spirit. The angel verified to Joseph that Mary would have a son, and she and Joseph were to call Him Jesus because He would save His people from their sins.

The Old Testament prophets wrote in well over 300 places not only about Jesus’ birth, but they also gave very specific details regarding His death. God let us know from the beginning that Jesus was sent to save God’s people from sin and death. He came to restore the broken relationship between God and man so we could once again have fellowship with our heavenly Father.

Isaiah wrote that Jesus would have the name Emmanuel which means “God with us”. God wants us to know that He is with us all the time in every place. We are never alone. He will not abandon us or forsake us. Whatever our need or wherever or need, God is with us.

Our world today is pretty much the same kind of world He was born into more than 2000 years ago. All the same kinds of problems – economic struggles, social strife, racial unrest, political corruption, religious conflict, moral decay – were looming large on the scene. Yet He has not left. He is still here with us in the middle of our problems.

We often think that Christmas is for the children. We can know for sure that God loves children. It is at this time of year that we focus on the fact that God became a little child and was born in a stable. The baby Jesus whose birth we celebrate is real evidence that God is with us. Emmanuel.

Whatever you may do for Christmas, keep in mind His plan was not to have a holiday with trees and stockings and a fat guy in a red suit. His plan was to be with us. The tree and the fat guy are okay; just don’t forget that God is with us.

Mary and Joseph and later the shepherds were all told “don’t be afraid.” Today the Lord would say the same thing to all of us – don’t be afraid. He is with you.