Immanuel



"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel -- which means, 'God with us.'

I remember a series of TV advertisements recently that focused on the idea of being with someone...we all want to be with, rather than alone. Life is more joyful, less lonely, when we are with someone. By becoming one of us, God has chosen to do life with us.

But how is he with us? In yesterday's sermon in church, the pastor talked about how God is with us...he is with us because he has come to live among us...and he is with us because he supernaturally lives within us...and, he is with us because he takes sides with us. He is with us in that way we would say to one another, "Are you with me?" Jesus would say, "Yes, I'm with you!"

In Paul's letter to the church located in Rome, there is a wonderful passage that echoes this message:

"If God is with us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all --how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"

God is with you...he is for you...he is on your side. His is the kind of love that will give up everything for you. Fear not.

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