An angel appeared in a dream to a very confused young man named Joseph. He had just discovered that the girl he was to marry was pregnant. And Joseph knew that he was not the father. The angel said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew explains further in his gospel (1:20-23). “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ which means ‘God with us.'”
God with us!
Prophecy fulfilled.
The Infinite God became finite.
The invisible God became visible.
The untouchable God became available.
Love displayed.
Yes, God is with us. And God is FOR us.
Every component of His character is for us. His power is for us. His love is for us. His grace. His mercy. His kindness. His justice. His compassion. He is faithfully for us!
Evidence of this was found in Bethlehem, in a manger. The reflection of God’s heart was displayed by the baby born to save us from sin that ensnares. The baby born to rescue us and restore all that is broken. The baby born to reconcile us to God. The baby born to bring peace. The baby born to die for us.
Does anyone deserve the gift of Jesus? Does anyone deserve the presence of God moving and working on our behalf? No, not one!
We are not worthy but God says we are of great value to Him. He says we don’t need to “clean up and shine our shoes” before we can receive His gift. We don’t have to try to make ourselves presentable. And we don’t have to understand. We just have to accept His gift with gratitude.
It’s only when we take time during the season of Advent to ponder His absolute worthiness and our total unworthiness that we receive the joy of this season.
Joy to the world, our Lord is come.
Rejoice, He is Immanuel, God with us.
Be joyful, He is God for us.
debponders 