God With Us

Peyton Johnston

December 24th, 2017

Matthew​ ​1:23

God​ ​saw​ ​how​ ​desperately​ ​his​ ​people​ ​needed​ ​salvation,​ ​so​ ​He​ ​sent​ ​Emmanuel,​ ​meaning,​ ​“God with​ ​us.”​ ​It​ ​was​ ​Lord​ ​of​ ​All​ ​who​ ​stepped​ ​down​ ​off​ ​His​ ​heavenly​ ​throne​ ​and​ ​into​ ​the​ ​earth​ ​He​ ​so divinely​ ​created.​ ​This​ ​was​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​monumental​ ​miracles​ ​ever​ ​known​ ​to​ ​take​ ​place,​ ​yet​ ​it occurred​ ​in​ ​the​ ​most​ ​modest​ ​and​ ​unsuspecting​ ​of​ ​ways.​ ​The​ ​spirit​ ​of​ ​the​ ​highest​ ​deity​ ​had​ ​been sent​ ​in​ ​the​ ​form​ ​of​ ​a​ ​humble​ ​human​ ​baby​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​order​ ​and​ ​breathe​ ​life​ ​to​ ​all​ ​mankind.​ ​He​ ​was the​ ​perfect​ ​paradox​ ​of​ ​being​ ​both​ ​fully​ ​God​ ​and​ ​fully​ ​human​ ​-​ ​the​ ​flawless​ ​mediator​ ​with​ ​a mission​ ​of​ ​salvation.​ ​This​ ​gift​ ​was​ ​a​ ​gracious​ ​representation​ ​of​ ​the​ ​response​ ​to​ ​the​ ​cry​ ​of​ ​God’s people​ ​begging​ ​for​ ​deliverance.​ ​It​ ​was​ ​the​ ​answer​ ​of​ ​hope​ ​brought​ ​to​ ​a​ ​broken​ ​and​ ​hurting​ ​world that​ ​had​ ​been​ ​devoured​ ​by​ ​the​ ​wicked​ ​beast​ ​of​ ​sin.​ ​It​ ​was​ ​the​ ​catalyst​ ​of​ ​change,​ ​and​ ​the beginning​ ​of​ ​the​ ​end.

And​ ​this​ ​child​ ​would​ ​grow​ ​to​ ​walk​ ​among​ ​His​ ​people​ ​as​ ​an​ ​ordinary​ ​man,​ ​yet​ ​still​ ​possess​ ​the extraordinary​ ​power​ ​to​ ​calm​ ​a​ ​storm​ ​and​ ​open​ ​the​ ​blinded​ ​eye​ ​with​ ​a​ ​single​ ​word.​ ​The​ ​one called​ ​Emmanuel​ ​had​ ​all​ ​power​ ​of​ ​heaven.​ ​With​ ​one​ ​word,​ ​He​ ​caused​ ​the​ ​earth​ ​and​ ​skies​ ​to form.​ ​His​ ​whisper​ ​compelled​ ​the​ ​tallest​ ​mountain​ ​to​ ​crumble​ ​into​ ​dust​ ​and​ ​every​ ​demon​ ​to tremble​ ​to​ ​its​ ​core.​ ​His​ ​voice​ ​could​ ​roll​ ​out​ ​as​ ​the​ ​thunderous​ ​roar​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Lion​ ​of​ ​Judah​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​a rain​ ​of​ ​fire,​ ​yet​ ​sweep​ ​in​ ​like​ ​a​ ​soft​ ​breeze​ ​as​ ​innocent​ ​and​ ​gentle​ ​as​ ​a​ ​lamb​ ​to​ ​silence​ ​a​ ​war. The​ ​voice​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Shepherd​ ​that​ ​would​ ​call​ ​out​ ​to​ ​comfort​ ​the​ ​lost,​ ​grieving,​ ​and​ ​wounded.​ ​Who would​ ​shower​ ​grace,​ ​mercy,​ ​and​ ​matchless​ ​love.​ ​The​ ​voice​ ​of​ ​the​ ​one​ ​that​ ​would​ ​conquer​ ​the grave​ ​and​ ​break​ ​the​ ​bonds​ ​of​ ​the​ ​fear.​ ​The​ ​voice​ ​from​ ​the​ ​very​ ​one​ ​who​ ​would​ ​offer​ ​himself​ ​as​ ​a pure​ ​and​ ​innocent​ ​offering​ ​-​ ​crying​ ​out​ ​“It​ ​is​ ​finished!”​ ​to​ ​put​ ​an​ ​end​ ​to​ ​the​ ​enemy’s​ ​reign.

Of​ ​all​ ​the​ ​marvelous​ ​gifts​ ​being​ ​given​ ​and​ ​received​ ​this​ ​Christmas​ ​season,​ ​Jesus​ ​Christ’s sacrifice​ ​was​ ​the​ ​most​ ​valuable​ ​gift​ ​ever​ ​known.​ ​Let’s​ ​not​ ​neglect​ ​the​ ​true​ ​reason​ ​for​ ​why​ ​we come​ ​together​ ​to​ ​celebrate​ ​this​ ​time…​ ​It​ ​is​ ​because​ ​of​ ​His​ ​selfless​ ​love​ ​that​ ​we​ ​have​ ​breath​ ​in our​ ​lungs​ ​and​ ​hope​ ​in​ ​our​ ​hearts!

Pray:​ ​​“Thank​ ​you,​ ​Lord,​ ​for​ ​sending​ ​Your​ ​spirit​ ​to​ ​save​ ​us.You​ ​could​ ​have​ ​turned​ ​Your​ ​back​ ​on us​ ​like​ ​we​ ​so​ ​often​ ​have​ ​on​ ​You.​ ​But​ ​instead,​ ​you​ ​looked​ ​on​ ​us​ ​with​ ​great​ ​compassion.​ ​You​ ​not only​ ​brought​ ​guidance​ ​and​ ​deliverance,​ ​but​ ​a​ ​promise​ ​of​ ​eternal​ ​life.​ ​For​ ​that,​ ​I​ ​am​ ​forever thankful!”