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| Advent 2013 ~ Bethlehem Candle |
Old Testament: "Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you." Isaiah 12:4-6
New Testament: "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' - which means 'God with us.'" Matthew 1:22-23
This passage in Matthew gives us a hint as to the intricate plan set-up by our Heavenly Father before the foundations of the world. Jesus was never and has never been an emergency plan to redeem humanity. The life, death and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ has always been God's number one plan. We see the details and hints about the life of Jesus in the Old Testament, spoken by prophets hundreds of years prior to Jesus being born. This Matthew passage reminds us that God is the master chess-player who has each event playing a part in His plan.
Jesus' name means 'God with us.' Think about that phrase: God with us. We are the reciprical of God. It is not "us with God." God is the larger factor in this equation, and He has chosen to abide with us. Praise God! I cannot imagine my life without the support, strength, grace and faith I find only in the fact that God is with me. Years ago I watched from a distance a 2nd grader struggle with a backpack zipper before school began. He was crying and frustrated. The bell had rung and he knew the pressure was on. He didn't ask for help; he was determined to unzip it- or break it. Suddenly out of nowhere, a janitor who had also noticed his struggle, came up from behind him, got on his knees next to the small boy and unzipped the stuck jacket zipper. As if a miracle had occurred, the boy looked up at the janitor and starred. He couldn't get out his words, 'thank you,' but his face said it all. "While we were still sinners Christ died for us." God is with us. God wants to be with us. His plan is to be with us.
Blessing and peace to you this morning as our Christmas season draws closer.
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