IMMANUEL
(pronounced Em-man-oo-ale')
GOD WITH US
Matthew 1:23
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His Name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God With Us.
This Name is given denoting the personal union (with us) between human nature and the divinity of Christ (God).
John 1:1, 14
In The Beginning was THE WORD and THE WORD was with God, and THE WORD was God.
And THE WORD became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of The Only Begotten of The Father,) full of grace and Truth.
Now, now that Jesus had arrived, those who looked to Him for their salvation, would never be alone again. Never would profound loss and sorrow prevail over God's people, for God is with Us now and forever.
Looking to The Lord in the Scriptures, we see that we are not alone in doing so:
- David wrote in 1 Chronicles 16:11 "Seek out The Lord and His Strength, seek His face always."
- Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 55:6 "Seek The Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near."
- Jeremiah said in Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek Me and find me, when you search for Me with your whole heart."
- Paul writes in Hebrews 11:6 "
- And without faith it is impossible to please God. For anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
God reminds us that He is always with us:
- Moses told Joshua in Deuteronomy 31:8 "
- And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
- God speaks to Joshua personally in Joshua 1:9 "
- Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
- Isaiah 43:1-2 "
- But now, this is what the LORD says—He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine! / When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze."
- David, Psalm 23:4 "
- Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Yet, these are but a sample of God being with us. Now is the time to draw near to God. Now is the day to look to Christ for our salvation. The days are short and getting shorter. Whereas for millennia the earth has rotated around the sun in a 24-hour span, now it is 23 hours 56 minutes and 4 seconds. The days ahead will get even shorter for God has promised to do concerning His people. (Mark 13:20; Matthew 24:22).
GOD WITH US - MercyMe
