Immanuel — “KINGDOM-NOW” Encouragement

Greetings Friend,

       Speaking of Mary, the Angel of the Lord said to Joseph, “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name JESUS, for HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS.” (Matthew 1:21)

       Now, that’s BIG! We all need to get it settled in our hearts that even though our sins were “as scarlet” we have been washed “as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). Jesus took away our sin (John 1:29); God wiped-out all our sin and He no longer remembers it (Isaiah 43:25). To not rest in the peace we have with God because of what Jesus did misses the whole point of Christmas.

       And to God, that is only the necessary means to the end He desired — His ultimate purpose:

       “Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet [Isaiah]: ‘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 1:22-23). Jesus came to clear the way for God to be with us!

       So, here’s the Encouragement: BE WITH GOD BY BEING AWARE THAT GOD IS WITH YOU. God created you so He could be with you. Jesus came so God could be with you. Christmas and Real Christianity are all about God being with you; so be with God by being aware that He is with you.

Merry Christmas and God bless,

Dave