This day’s reading Matthew 1:22-23 22Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:23See, the virgin will become pregnantand give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel,which is translated “God is with us.” Devotional Inspired by Christmas This Year by TobyMac While Christmas is often associated with special memories that warm our hearts and fill us with joy, it can also become a lonely season for many people. For those who’ve lost a loved one, Christmas reminds them that someone is missing. For those who are lonely, the feeling is amplified. For some of us, Christmas is about distance. That distance is something we can all likely relate to. We understand what it means to feel far from God. We know what it means to feel guilt, shame, fear and doubt. God seems far away. We wonder how we could ever be loved. The distance sets in. Perhaps the most beautiful word associated with the Christmas story speaks a resounding answer for this distance that we feel, whether it’s associated with the holidays or not. Emmanuel. Emmanuel is actually two Hebrew words placed together meaning “God with us.” It was a term given to Joseph in Matthew’s gospel that not only pointed back to its origin in the book of Isaiah but also gave a profound depth to what was actually taking place in the birth of Jesus. “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).” (Matthew 1:22-23) Emmanuel is God’s way of answer the distance once and for all. No longer does creation have to feel distant from the Creator. No longer do we need to feel alone, isolated, abandoned or afraid. The distance has been eliminated, replaced by a close presence we’ve been hungry for all along. Emmanuel. God is now truly with us. Consider the original audience for these words. Joseph and Mary were marginalized and poor. They were oppressed minorities in an Empire that barely acknowledged their existence. Even though they were subjected to Roman tyranny, they still believed that trusted in the one true God. A God who likely felt pretty far away at times. In Psalm 10, the writer asks, “Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” It is a reminder that distance is something all of us feel as humans. The beautiful news is that God has provided an answer. We are no longer distant. Emmanuel. God is now with us, now and forevermore. Me:I know for me this year has been hard during the holidays with my heart trying to heal from being broken. And its hard knowing Ill be alone (single) this year. But I am so happy to know that the Lord will be here for me. Theres times its hard to feel God is close or that He even cares. I call these times my time in the valley. Though these times are hard and its a struggle feeling like God is distant, its these times that we need to know that is the closest. It reminds me of the Footprints in the Sand poem. It may be hard but with the love from friends, family and ultimately the Lord I know we all are going to be alright. Hear TobyMacs Christmas This Year here. https://youtube/watch?v=zWGxf_Zu8uI
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 17:34:13 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015