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God with Us

The fourth Sunday of Advent.

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Matthew 1:21-23

This week's reading: Matthew 1:18-25.

Reflection

In these verses the child who is to be born is given two names, and each one tells us something about why he came.

The first name: Jesus, “for he will save his people from their sins”. Christ did not come only to teach us, but to save us from the sin that separates us from God. And we do not earn this salvation with our own hands; we receive it from him as a gift.

The second name: Immanuel, “which means, God with us”. God did not stay far from us. He came to us himself in Christ, lived among us as a real human being, and knew tiredness, hunger and tears (see Matthew 4:2, and John 4:6 and 11:35).

You may be reading this alone: far from your family in another country, or in a home where no one knows you are seeking Christ. “God with us” is not a holiday slogan. It is a truth that is with you in the room where you are right now.

And notice Joseph in this story: we do not read a single word from him, but we read that he quietly obeyed God (see Matthew 1:24). Faith is often lived like this: in quiet obedience and everyday faithfulness.

A question to reflect on

At what time of your day do you most need to remember that God is with you?

This week's step

This week, choose a set moment, when you wake up or before you sleep, and say quietly, even if only in your heart: Lord Jesus, you are with me.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you that you did not stay far away, but came to us. You are Jesus, who saves from sins, and you are Immanuel, God with us. Forgive my sins, be with me in my loneliness and in my weariness, and teach me to know your presence every day. Amen.

Next Step

The next devotional is on Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December: “No Room in the Inn”, with a reading from Luke 2.

Scripture quotations are from the English Standard Version (ESV).