Each year Christmas means more than it did the year
before. This year I keep thinking about the phrase "God with
Us." Look back through our entire faith story - start in the book of
Genesis. If the stories contained in this book are not proof enough that
God desperately wants to be with us, keep reading. When the Israelites
are freed from slavery and leave Egypt, God instructs them to build a
tabernacle- a large tent that would go with them wherever they traveled.
God's dwelling place. His people weren't holy enough for Him to
just be present. God is too holy and pure for us to come too
close. In the tabernacle, only a certain few people were allowed to carry
out certain tasks, and the word "unclean" comes into play over and
over. God, however, provides a way each time for His people to return to
His presence and become clean again. He wants to be near us.
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
I drew a picture on the whiteboard one day in class
for my Kindergarteners. We were talking about Jesus coming to earth, and
discussing why it was such a big deal. At the bottom of the picture I
drew some people - they represent all of us, God's creation. At the top
of the picture I wrote the word "God." There was a significant
space in between the two and I asked the kids, "How are we ever going to
get to where God is? How can we ever be near to Him?" I then
drew the cross in between as a bridge and wrote "Jesus" inside, to
illustrate that Jesus is the only way to the Father.
The Christmas story is so life-changing because it
means that we now have a way to the presence of God, and He has a way to be
near us. Forever. God came to earth as Jesus to live among us, to
feel what we feel and teach us to love. He then became the final and
complete sacrifice for sin, canceling our impurities and uncleanness so that we
could always dwell in the presence of God. He died because He loves us,
and because He wants to be near us. Another awesome part of this is that He
is with us regardless of our faults and our sinful nature. Jesus did not
come to condemn us, but to free us and cover us, a sinful people, with a grace
that surpasses all things.
I have seen their ways, but I will heal
them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners, creating
praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the Lord. “And
I will heal them.”
(Isaiah 57:18, 19 NIV)
The God of all things WANTS us to be close to Him.
The birth of this child meant that never again would any of us be without
our Father. Emmanuel - God with us.
I pray for the day when you truly feel Emmanuel in
your heart, and the peace that accompanies it. We have hope because our
God is with us. He will never leave us.
