God With Us

   But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

   So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

—Matthew 1:20-23 (NKJV)

Lord of my Salvation,

Thank You that through a baby born long ago, You did the impossible—to make it possible for me to experience the joy and peace of Your presence with me.

Thank You that as the infinite and unlimited God, You chose to take on human limitations, and came to the world as a baby, to live with us and die for us—taking on Yourself the penalty for our sin and destroying its power over us.

Thank You for coming to earth to be our Savior—for knowing that we could never save ourselves from our sinful nature or the consequences of our sin—and for paying our debt in full.

Thank You that just like those who experienced the wonder of being in the physical presence of Jesus when He walked upon the earth, I can know His presence and power all around me—and even in me—through the Holy Spirit and can fully experience Immanuel, “God with us.”

Thank You that through a baby born long ago, You did the impossible—to make it possible for me to experience the joy and peace of Your presence with me.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.