Annie
Scriptures:
Isaiah 7:10-16
Hebrews 4:14-16
Luke 2:22-35
Several years ago, I heard a Christmas carol I had never heard before and the words made me realise that this season needs to be so very much more than just remembering the babe born in a cattle stall and laid in a manger. He is and always will be GOD WITH US, Immanuel.
The carol is sung to Mary, the mother of Jesus, asking her the question “Mary, did you know?” She was a young, teenage mother who had just given birth to a Son who had been conceived by the power of Holy Spirit. She had been despised when she came home from her cousin’s home obviously pregnant and not yet married to Joseph. Heavily pregnant, she and Joseph had made the journey to the city of his ancestors to register in the census. She was among strangers, housed amongst the family’s animals because the guest room was already full. She was probably scared, feeling very alone and stunned by the enormity of what she could remember of the Angel’s words to her all those months ago.
Immanuel, God is with us.
The baby lying in her arms was Immanuel, the Saviour foretold centuries before. The One and Only Son of the Most High God, sent to the nation, to the world, to save us all. He is the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life. Our only Hope.
Immanuel, God is with us.
When Jesus was taken to the temple to be presented to the Lord, Simeon, who had been promised not to see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ, clearly did know. He had been prompted by Holy Spirit to go to the temple where he met with Mary and Joseph. He took the baby in his arms and broke out into a prayer of thanksgiving to God that he could now depart in peace because he had seen the One who was the Salvation of God’s people.
Immanuel, God is with us.
As that song asks, can we honestly say we know, do we understand that this child is the Messiah, the Great I Am? As we move through this season of Christmas where all we hear about in the songs and carols is the baby in the manger, do we know? Do we truly know?
Immanuel, God is with us.
When we are convicted of our need for salvation, prompted by Holy Spirit to cry out for mercy, we do know. We know in the depths of our being that our only salvation is Jesus Christ. This One and Only Son of God, born of a virgin, the Word become flesh Who made his home with us, is all we need to be able to come to God in repentance and know total forgiveness. But, today, do we still know?
Immanuel, God is with us.
Going about our daily lives, do we recognise the Hand of God in all we are doing? Do we hear God singing over us? Do we say, as Moses did, if You are not going with me, then I’m not going anywhere? In our weeping, in our rejoicing are we aware that God really is with us?
We are coming to the end of a year that has turned the world upside down. None of us knew at the start of this year, 2020, what was about to come upon our world. This has been a year for making choices. The most important choice has to have been to take God at His word that He will never leave us, that He will never abandon us, that we are graven on His Palms, that He collects our tears in a bottle, that we are loved beyond measure.
This is the incontrovertible, incomparable truth: He is, always was and always will be Immanuel, God is with us.
Prayer: Father God, grant us Your Mercy to choose to learn from all that has happened in this tumultuous year. May we always be aware of Your Presence in all we do, wherever we are, whatever is happening. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzY0RJy2Pxc&ab_channel=MatandSavannaShaw-Topic