Immanuel

IMMANUEL

Composed 12/4/11

In the Old Testament God showed himself to his people,

sometimes in a cloud, sometimes through visitations from angels.

When the Israelites wandered 40 years in the wilderness

God presided over them, leading, guiding through every test.

But the sinful nature causes one to rebel

and ignoring God's directives causes trouble.

History is shown to repeat this cause and effect

of either praying for help - or of willful neglect.

So God's blessed people chose to follow their own, selfish will

only to be led on a continual spiral downhill.

Will humanity ever learn

that God is waiting for their return?

Later a promise was made to Isaiah, fortunately,

for it seemed like there was no hope for humanity.

This promise was the coming of Immanuel

though hundreds of years before His coming would befall.

Years pass. The New Testament begins

with a reminder of this promise again.

An angel told Joseph in a dream that Mary would have a son.

He should be named Immanuel. God's solution for the world had come!

Today we commemorate this first Christmas

with celebrations and decorations in mass

often forgetting the reason

we celebrate this season.

We forget that God's solution

to the world's many problems

came that night as "God with us" or Immanuel

when Jesus comes into our heart to dwell.

"God with us" replaces the restlessness,

the searching to fill the emptiness,

to fill the void, to make us complete.

“God with us” is what our soul seeks.

* * * * *

December – a month of fa, la, la, la, la.

Of festive gatherings of those near and far.

With twinkling lights and decorated trees.

Of gifts that delight you and me.

Then suddenly Christmas is over

without a thought of whatever

is the reason

for the season.

Matthew records why Jesus came.

The reason is found in His names.

Jesus means the Lord saves.

Christmas Day that way was paved.

As promised long ago,

the name Immanuel

means God with us

when we simply trust.

His name Messiah means The Christ,

the Anointed One, despite the price

that would be paid on Calvary's tree

where Jesus died for you and me.

Died to save us from our sins

when we believe in Him.

So that's what Christmas is all about -

when the birth of Jesus came about.

God's Christmas gift to us

is His beloved son Jesus.

So this year when Christmas is over and done

can you say you made room for God's Son?

By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud

to guide them on their way

and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light.

Exodus 13:21

The Lord will go before you,

the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

Isaiah 52:12

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son,

and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son,

and they will call him Immanuel – which means, "God with us."

Matthew 1:22-23