12 Days Of Christmas: Immanuel

Bless us, Lord, this Christmas, with quietness of mind; Teach us to be patient and always to be kind.

- Helen Steiner Rice

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

- Isaiah 7:14

Immanuel means “God with us.” It means Jesus leaving the comfort of Heaven to enter into the chaos of this life. The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 2 that He actually did this of His own free will. He was not forced to, but out of His great love for us, entered into our reality. In doing so, He showed us what it means to humble ourselves and how to value one another. The Apostle Paul writes,

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage;

7 rather, He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:5-8

“God with us” is not a thought or a feeling, but a truthful reality. It is Jesus walking this earth and showing us, by His example, what it means to love one another. It is living out the Fruit of the Spirit we studied the past 10 weeks. It is treating each other with patience, goodness, kindness, respect and exhibiting self-control.  In the words of the great theologian, Tim McGraw (actually written by Lori McKenna),

Hold the door, say please, say thank you

Don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie

I know you got mountains to climb but

Always stay humble and kind

When the dreams you're dreamin' come to you

When the work you put in is realized

Let yourself feel the pride but

Always stay humble and kind.

This Christmas season, may we remember that God is with us, and may it be reflected in our thoughts, our words, our deeds and even our attitudes. Immanuel!

Pastor Ken

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