December 2020
(picture courtesy of Alpha Australia - https://www.alpha.org.au/ )
In the Hebrew language, the word ‘Emmanuel’ literally means, ‘God with us’. I have been at home for some months now doing my best to work on different personal issues that have been testing me to some extent… in the process, this word has been very much at the forefront of my thinking and I have recounted many occasions over my life where I have had ‘God with me’.
From leaving school & stepping into my vocation
Being newly married and moving from East coast of Australia to the West coast
Building our first home
Having children
Work opportunities
And my List goes on (for more details pleases read my book ‘Door of Hope’ – now available to purchase at the following:
I came across the following song on YouTube and would encourage you to watch… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX7ifT8PZg4 – God with me (Emmanuel) – ICF Worship
In the song, she sings, ‘this is not how I thought it would be…’ I would say 2020 has been that same line for a lot of us!
The bible makes it very clear, Jesus, God’s Son, was the fulfilment of Old Testament prophesy – in the old testament book of Isaiah, written around mid 8th century BCE it says;
Isaiah 7:14 MSG – ‘…the Master is going to give you a sign anyway. Watch for this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She’ll bear a son and name him Immanuel (God-With-Us)…’
He was the long-promised Emmanuel, sent by God to save His people and usher in a new kingdom. He came as the mediator between God and man, as our Redeemer, Saviour, and Friend.
Christmas, is the reminder that approx. 2 thousand years ago (back somewhere between 6 to 4 century BC), God looked upon our sin-ravished world, saw our hopelessness and all our futile attempts to make ourselves right with Him, and He did for us what we could never do on our own — He came to us…by sending his Son.
Matthew 1:19-25 KJV - 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
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.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.
When Jesus Christ came to earth, He quite literally became… Emmanuel, ‘God with us’.
Today as we come closer to Christmas 2020 and look back on a year that many of us would probably wish to forget…. I believe and want to encourage us all today to be mindful that there are many we know (in our sphere of influence) that would really benefit from knowing a friend like Jesus this Christmas as ‘Emmanuel – God with them’.
PRAYER is a powerful component to having a closer relationship with Jesus Christ and I encourage you to ask the Lord for names of friends or family that we should be daily praying for (if you wish to know more on HOW to pray, please check out this free resource – https://prayercourse.org/ ) you can write the names out and stick your list to your fridge to remind you every day to say a short prayer for each of them, whatever they are going thru, as Jesus wants to have a personal relationship with them this Christmas 2020 and be their EMMANUEL – God with them!
I believe we are here to be a blessing to others, and that God wants to use us – there is a difference to be made if we are willing to choose having EMMANUEL, God with us and shine His light for others to see this Christmas.