Praise to IMMANUEL
“‘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.'”
Can you imagine someone telling you what to name your unborn child? How about being told that your fiancé was going to have a son who would be born BEFORE the two of you came together sexually? While your head is spinning, add another piece of information: your fiancé is going to be pregnant not by a man, but by the Holy Spirit. At this point, it’s too much to absorb, but before you can ask a question, you’re told, “you will name Him Jesus.” Before you can protest that you had planned to name your firstborn son after you, you’re told “Jesus” was selected because he would “save His people.” Your heart is racing. “Save our nation?” That thought is a good one! But before you can finish the thought, the announcer of the news continues, “…from their sins.” You want to blurt out, “What? Save people from their sins? But only God can do that.”
Lord Jesus, IMMANUEL, we praise You! You’re not a God who is far removed. Nor are You one who has left us to die in the catastrophes of our sins. Rather, YOU’VE come from heaven to earth, IMMANUEL…GOD WITH US. Thank You, Lord Jesus.