"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall shalt His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all 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" (Matthew 1:21-23).
Merry Christmas Eve Eve! I remember being SO excited on this day growing up. The anticipation for Christmas Eve just builds and builds as the day goes on.
Christmas Eve is usually by far my favorite day of the year. My entire family always gets together to celebrate. There's turkey, ham, and lots of mac & cheese. Kids are playing and laughing, and there is probably a Rook card game going on somewhere. My mom is running around taking pictures of everyone, and my papaw is insisting we will not be opening our presents until we've eaten all of our dinner. It's just the best.
While this year's Christmas Eve will be different without papaw (and of course because of COVID-19), I am thankful for the promise of Immanuel, God with us.
Papaw may not be with us this Christmas, but Jesus will be. He's still with us, and amazingly, He's with papaw too.
God is present when I'm in line to put my aunt's yummy mac & cheese on my plate. God is present when my cousins are yelling out of excitement in a Rook game. God is present when my mom is taking a picture of me and my sister in front of the Christmas tree.
And, God will be present even if Christmas 2020 doesn't feel like a typical Christmas.
Christmas's meaning still rings true. God still sent His only begotten Son to be born of a virgin in Bethlehem all of those years ago so that we may be saved. The Messiah still came. There is still joy, peace, and hope even in the midst of a corona Christmas. All because God is still with us. Jesus is still Immanuel.
So, what does Immanuel mean to me? It means that no matter what I am doing, where I am, or who I am with, God is right there with me too. His Spirit is living within me. That's what I am remembering this Christmas, the beautiful truth that the Almighty God, El Shaddai, Adonai, is with me.
Let what the Jewish prophet Isaiah prophesied of the Messiah assure you of God's presence this Christmas, "Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14).
עמנואל (Immanuel in Hebrew)
Enjoy this picture of me and my sister from last Christmas :)
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