Pocket Sized Thoughts – Christmas – Part 5

They shall call His name Immanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)

Prophesied over 600 years earlier by Isaiah, the birth of Christ Jesus is the fulfilment of that word. This, that is ‘God with us’ is His primary name, or description. As we have been previously considering, all the wonder of the eternal Godhead has come to be alongside and deeply involved with the human race. He is no detached, or capricious god bestowing perceived favours upon a select few. No matter how far we think we have wandered away from Him, He is utterly available to us all. The other name He was given was, of course, Jesus (Matthew 1:21). This also is highly descriptive as it means that He will save His people from the ravages and destructive power of sin. God with us to do what we could not do for ourselves, that is to save from the destruction of sin. If we will allow Him and own Him as both Lord and Saviour, He will not only and simply be, God with us, but He will also become God in us, ‘Christ in us, the hope of glory’ (Colossians 1:27). This is the reason of His coming and the plan of His salvation. No longer the everlasting, all-powerful God limited to one very special Person upon the earth, but really living in as many who will truly receive Him. How He does this will be thought about next, but is it so for you?

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that your names have such depth of meaning; help me to experience all that they mean in my life.”