Day #338 - Immanuel

The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭7‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Photo by Phil Hearing on Unsplash

What kind of answer do you think you would get if you asked people what is the greatest problem in the world?

Yes, even if you asked conspiracy theorists. I think people would say things like the economy, government corruption, wars or racial and ethnic hatred. If you asked people who are concerned about the environment they would probably say global warming, climate change or a lack of natural resources. If you ask the truly poor of the world they would probably say hunger or the lack of access to food. I guess it depends where you live and what you are facing in some ways, but I believe the greatest problem the world faces is that people live without God.

In Isaiah’s prophecy about the Messiah, about Jesus, He says the Lord will give His people a sign that the virgin will be with child and bear a Son who will be called Immanuel. This is what Christmas and the incarnation are all about God being with us. That is what Immanuel means, “God with us.” Our greatest need as humanity was for God to be with us. God could visit His people in a cloud, in fire, in His tabernacle or even come upon people by His Spirit for specific tasks and assignments He had for them. But Jesus, the Son of God, being born to the Virgin Mary was God coming to be with us.

What do we need for our pain? God with us.

What is the hope of the nations? God with us.

What brings us peace and joy? God with us.

What are we missing as a result of sin? God with us.

What can reverse the curse of the darkness in our present age? God with us.

Jesus being called Immanuel means that Jesus is “God with us.” God with us means “the Presence.” Jesus is “the Presence.” Jesus coming to the earth in His incarnation is how God is with us. Jesus becoming a man changed how God could dwell with us. He doesn’t visit us anymore, He is with us. He became as us so He could be with us and we could be with Him.

Being a person of “the Presence” is simply about beholding Jesus. Knowing, loving and adoring Jesus causes us to dwell with Him. This is why He came, to be with us. He is Immanuel. He is God with us.

Lord Jesus, I worship You. Thank You for taking on human flesh to come and be with us so that I could be with You. You are God with us. I praise You Immanuel! This Advent season, allow me to learn the power of simply being with You. In Jesus name, amen.