The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”).

Matthew 1:23

Amazing!  God who is far off is with us!   Who can fully grasp the meaning of this promise, and who can live in its reality?  God wants to live with us, creatures he has made.  Now, we must decide if we want God to be with us, to be in us, in fact.  For all has been done to enable God to dwell in my heart, and yours, without reference to race, tribe or nation.  That is what happened at Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Jesus is Immanuel, God with us.   Many people believe in God but few experience him as the most powerful presence among them, right now, closer than our own breathing.  That thrills the soul, for sure.  That God should choose to dwell among those he created is as true as it is humbling.

God created us, He knows us thoroughly and He has opened the way for us to fling open the doors of our hearts to welcome him in, his rightful place.  I confess with my whole being that “God is with me.”  That is because of what Jesus did!  This morning I am made aware again that God loves me, is with me, and has prepared the way before me to adore Him for who he is and for what he does.