Emmanuel
“God with us.” A promise of his presence. A promise that we are never truly alone. The mighty one who was present at the creation of the world is also present on our best, our worst, and our most mundane days.
In Matthew 1:22-23, an angel provides hope that, “... all of this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 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.”
Emmanuel is one of my favorite names of Jesus. Most days, my tendency is to feel weak and fragile. Yet, it is within this very weakness that the promise of His presence empowers me to function past my own strength and function in His strength, with His grace, and the fruit of His spirit.
The very presence of Christ within my life propels me to reflect His heart, mind, and vision, an abundant, all-encompassing love of God and love of humanity. No longer a provisional or conditional love centered on my feelings or desires. Instead, a powerful, honest and compelling love made complete by the very God that within our brokenness, comes to make you and I complete.
My prayer for you through this season and into the year ahead, is that the truth of Jesus as Emmanuel will transform every moment of your day. May your perspective, your deepest desires, and your most powerful fears be laid before the Christ who chose to reveal God to us by coming as a weak and helpless baby that you and I might experience a most powerful God who is the author of love. A God who loves YOU beyond measure. He is with you, my friend. You are never alone.