Reflections on Emmanuel, God WITH Us

I am so happy to be able to share again this year this beautiful meditation by my friend and sister in the Lord, Kathy Compton. Thank you, Kathy, for ushering us into the Advent season by helping us reflect on the great mystery of our faith: Emmanuel, God with us!

Emmanuel…a Christmas Reading
by Kathy Compton

Christmas means different things to different people. For some, it is a difficult holiday because of memories that are cherished…but they are just memories now.

There is an emptiness about Christmas. 

For some, it is the delight of family and friends, of decorations and cards, of cookies and carols.

There is a fullness about Christmas.

But no matter how you feel about Christmas, it comes down to believing in one simple truth: The Holy God chose to bankrupt heaven and send His only Son to earth for us. He lived on our planet over 2,000 years ago, born of lowly birth to His virgin mother Mary and His earthly father Joseph.

He is with us now to meet our deepest needs.

Matthew 1:23 says, “Behold, the Virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means God with us.”

GOD with us. God WITH us. God with US.

GOD with us. God is love, joy, peace, truth, mercy, and grace. He is our Creator, Sustainer, Provider, Master, and Father. He is everlasting, all powerful, always good, all knowing, perfectly holy, just, and He is our hope!

God WITH us means He is here.  He is here in the good times and the hard times. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He loves and cares as no one else can.

God is WITH us in sickness and surgery. He is WITH us whether we are married or single. He is WITH us when we are happy or sad. He is WITH us whether we are poor or rich. He is WITH us whether we are young or old. He has chosen to be WITH us.

God is WITH us in dark times of loss, anger, frustration, worry, and fear.  God WITH us. He is WITH us when we are lonely, and we are often lonely. Not alone, but lonely for those we once enjoyed having nearby. Maybe we are lonely for people or for places or for someone or something else. But rejoice. God is WITH us.

God is WITH us when we are worried. He offers hope in this often confusing world. He is WITH us when we become angry over our sin or the sins of others. He is forgiving, and He helps us forgive.  God is WITH us when we are afraid. He makes the darkness light.

God with US. 

God with US means you and me. It means all who have accepted His gift of salvation. That is definitely a gift worth sharing with everyone we can.

Think about Emmanuel. Think about Almighty God and all His attributes. Think about His choice to be WITH us. Think about the fact that this means you.

GOD WITH US.