Immanuel

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 us 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 year 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 would 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 gathering 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 Annointed One, despite the price
that would be paid on Calvary's tree
when 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?

Exodus 13:21

Isaiah 52:12

Isaiah 7:14

Matthew 1:22-23