Immanuel

Father God, thank you for this is the day that You have made and we shall be glad and rejoice in it. As Your Word goes forth LORD, may it heal, transform, deliver and set free the lawful captives in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD.

Matthew 1:23 (NKJV)

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."

Amen, thank you LORD.

Mary, Jesus' mother who was a virgin was told by an angel of the LORD that she was going to have a child by the Holy Spirit who would be the Son of God. Mary, was engaged to be married to her fiance Joseph. When Mary found out about this news, she did not ask the angel of the LORD if this marriage would still take place if she got pregnant without her husband. Instead she said, "Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38). When Joseph found out about the news, he respectfully wanted to call off the marriage but an angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream and told him, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 1:20).

Today's lead Word is a continuation of the Angel's instructions to Joseph concerning the birth of Jesus. Often times, we sing about Immanuel during Christmas season but Immanuel is such a powerful name that we ought to meditate on all through the year because of it's meaning - 'God with us.' (Matthew 1:23)

When you consider Mary and Joseph's lives, engaged to be married and here Mary was pregnant with child by the Holy Spirit and considering the society they lived in at the time, I believe they of all the people needed to be reminded that God was with them. Later on, when Jesus was born they fled to Egypt because king Herod was killing baby boys in search for the Christ (Matthew 2:13-15). But God was with them, literally. It did not matter the place or the situation they had to endure, they were with Immanuel.

In the book of Genesis, Jacob also known as Israel, after he received the blessing from his father, Isaac, was instructed by his mother to leave for her brother's house, Laban (Genesis 27:43). This was because Esau, as first born was angry his younger brother took his father's blessing (Genesis 27:38). As Jacob was leaving his father's house, God appeared to Jacob and re assured him that he would be with him wherever He went. In Genesis 28:15 (NKJV), "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you." Again when it was time for Jacob to flee from his uncle Laban's house with all his wives, children and possessions, God re assured him, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you." (Genesis 31:3). Sometimes, all you need is that re assurance that God is with you through that challenge or situation and in the end, God will faithfully do you good. Jacob did indeed go through a couple of trials, but I believe because he had an understanding that God was with him and indeed all would turn out well for His glory. Today, one of the LORD God's names is the God of Israel. Jesus, the son of God also went through trials and in Hebrews 5:8 (NKJV), we are reminded that "though he was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered."

2 Corinthians 4:17 says, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." So child of God, receive God's comfort and strength. God is with you just like He was with Jesus, Israel, Mary and Joseph and He shall see you through to a good end that He has prepared concerning your life - Yes and in Him, Amen!

Prayer: Father God, thank you that You are God with us, not removed or at a distance from our situation but with us so we receive Your comfort and strength in the name of Jesus. Thank you that our light affliction is working for us a far more exceeding eternal weight of glory so we count it all joy for Your glory in the name of Jesus, Amen.

I'll end with this Word found in 1 Corinthians 1:9 (NKJV)

"God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

Amen, thank you LORD.

Invitation to salvation: On that note, if you would like to be born again into God's Kingdom, that is saved and have a personal relationship with God as Your Father and you as His child by receiving His Son, Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, I invite you to say this confession:

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever." AMEN.