The Gift of His Presence

“All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’ ”

Matthew 1:22–23


I enjoy spending time during the Christmas season contemplating just what the name “Emmanuel” means and why it is so significant besides the fact that God Himself took on human flesh when Jesus Christ was conceived in Mary’s womb and then born into this world. First and foremost the name is significant in that it was given to Jesus Christ to distinguish his birth from all others. The name “Emmanuel” also serves as reminder of God’s faithfulness and His promise to us to never leave us nor forsake us.

Though God never has forsaken us that doesn’t mean we don’t go through bouts where we feel like we are. For countless people in the world Christmas magnifies their current state. If life is good, Christmas has a way of heightening our high and yet if life isn’t so good then Christmas has a way of magnifying the pain, the hurt and often times the loneliness we feel. Thats why it’s so important to understand “Emmanuel” isn’t an event, “Emmanuel” is a person, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The gift of Christmas is the gift of God’s presence made possible when Jesus was born into the world, lived a sinless life and then died a vicarious death on the Cross to reconcile us back to God. Though God has always been near, our sins separated us from Him so that we could not enjoy His presence. All that changed because of Christmas when Jesus came into this world and paid the ultimate price so that we would never have to be alone again. Jesus stands at the door of every human heart knocking and waiting for the invitation to come in. Sadly, not all will receive the gift of Christmas, “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God” (John 1:12-13). The gift of Christmas is the abiding presence of God!

I LOVE YOU!