Advent Devotion ~ Immanuel (Day 8)

This is not a traditional Christmas carol... but the words speak to Christmas with such power. Michael Card writes songs that are more than songs, they are devotionals.




A sign shall be given
A virgin will conceive
A human baby bearing
Undiminished deity
The glory of the nations
A light for all to see
Hope for all who will embrace
His warm reality

Immanuel
Our God is with us
And if God is with us
Who could stand against us
Our God is with us
Immanuel

For all those who live in the shadow of death
A glorious light has dawned
For all those who stumble in the darkness
Behold your light has come

So what will be your answer?
Will you hear the call?
Of Him who did not spare His son
But gave him for us all
On earth there is no power
There is no depth or height
That could ever separate us
From the love of God in Christ

Immanuel
Our God is with us
And if God is with us
Who could stand against us
Our God is with us
Immanuel

There is no need to explain the origin of this song... the words are mostly straight from Scripture. And the words speak of such wonderful truth!

Matthew 1:18-25
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save his people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Although we face many things in this life... many difficulties and sorrows... we never face them alone. Jesus, the Messiah, is God with us.

As a child we find comfort in a stuffed animal or blanket knowing they are close. But how much more knowing our mother or father is close at hand! Yes, we often feel comforted by having friends or family close by also... but the truth is our real comfort and strength is not in anything of Earth... but that we have with us the very Son of God! And in Him is true comfort, love, and strength. God is with us!