“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:
Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son,
and she will call His name Immanuel.”
Isaiah 7:14 NASB
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and
shall bear a Son, and they shall call
His name Immanuel,” which translated means,
“God with us.”
Matthew 1:23 NASB
Grace Perspective:
Immanuel, God is with us. In this passage of Scripture, God sent Isaiah to King Ahaz to assure him that God was close by and was aware of the threat against the kingdom of Judah. The prophet reminds King Ahaz (and us) if God is with us, we don’t need to be afraid. However, King Ahaz refused to trust God’s word. Isaiah then prophesied the coming of Messiah, born from a virgin and named Immanuel…God with us.
This prophecy was fulfilled through a young woman named Mary. She was engaged to a man named Joseph. In the passage from Matthew, an angel visits Joseph (who was concerned that his bride-to-be was pregnant) to reassure him that the child she carried was the Messiah that Isaiah foretold would come. This child would be named Jesus, and He would save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21) God fulfilled His promise and sent His Son to us. Jesus was born in the shadow of the cross, knowing that to be with us meant He would eventually die for us. Yet, He rose from the grave and is still with us. Immanuel is a gracious name that reminds us that we are never alone, for God is always with us.
A Touch of Grace:
What does it mean that God is with you?
Who do you go to when you feel alone?
Grace Application:
Immanuel, God with us. With you…with me…with us. God so loved the world that He sent His only Son to be with us, to save us from our sin. (John 3:16) Jesus, our Immanuel, is the Prince of Peace, our Wonderful Counselor, and our Mighty God. Immanuel came to reconcile us to God and bring peace in our relationship with God the Father. Yet, how often do we feel out of sorts, alone, afraid, and anxious?
Christmas is often a stressful time for many people. This season can be a source of pain and anxiety for many. The world seems to be in chaos, with a pandemic that appears intent on lingering as long as possible. Tragedy strikes as tornadoes rip through communities bringing devastation in their path. The rise in the price of food, gas, umm… everything brings additional stress to many family budgets. There is unsettledness all around the world, but Immanuel is still with us.
Like King Ahaz, we have a choice. We can trust that God is with us or let fear cloud our thoughts and keep us bound in anxiety. The name Immanuel is a powerful reminder that God is with us! He is here now in this moment, and wherever we are, we can call on His name and remember His promise to be with us. We can take comfort that His peace can guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Immanuel. We simply need to call on His gracious name. Will you call Him your Immanuel today? I pray everyone reading this knows Jesus Christ as Savior and will be filled with the knowledge that He is with us, always and forever.
Prayer:
Gracious Father, I come to You in the precious name of Jesus Christ, my Immanuel. Thank You, Father, for sending Your Son to be my Savior. Thank You for always being with me, no matter the circumstances. Holy Spirit, help me cling to this truth so that my heart and mind are guarded with the peace that passes all understanding. May the gracious name Immanuel be in my heart, and may You be glorified as I trust in You more fully. Amen
**Today, as you read this, I pray each of you will know for sure you are in Christ Jesus. If you have any doubts, please call out to God so that all doubt is erased. Today is a good day to be assured of Salvation in Christ Jesus. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at graceisdawning@gmail.com**