Immanuel (God With Us)

“...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 conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

- Matthew 1:20-23

“God’s love is so extravagant and so inexplicable that He loved us before we were us.”

– Judah Smith

This is love; not that we loved God, but that He loves us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for sins.

– 1 John 4:10

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

– Jesus, John 3:16

Like the Greek language, the Hebrew language (the original language of the Old Testament) has several words for love:

Aheb - to delight in, to desire, to be attached to, like a friend

Chabab – to cherish and protect

Dode – beloved, lover

Racham – compassion

One of my favorites, however, is “Ahava,” which literally means “I give.” God loves us so much that “He gave” His Only Son.

In return, He asks that we share that love with others, that we “give.” What does that look like in real life?

- It means doing for others expecting nothing in return.

- It means going out of our way for someone even when it is inconvenient.

- It means putting the needs of others before our own.

- It means sacrificing our wants and desires for the benefit of someone else.

- It means looking for ways to be a blessing to others.

This Christmas Season and on into 2022, may we be a people of God who exhibit an “Ahava” kind of love, a love that gives over and over again.

Pastor Ken

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