Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)
I wonder if you’re the kind of person who likes those questionnaires which reveal the type of person you are? According to our answers we can learn what animal we are most like, what our favourite food is likely to be or, more seriously, how we might be most effective in serving others. Some of us thrive in a crowd while others are just craving some time alone. We probably don’t need a questionnaire to help us with that one.
Regardless of the type of person we are there are some things we do well alone and some we do better together. The bible teaches us that life is most fulfilled when it is shared with others. When the prophet Isaiah foretold the Messiah’s birth he used the name Immanuel.
The meaning of this name is: God with us.
On his album ‘The Promise’ singer/songwriter Michael Card sings:
Immanuel. Our God is with us!
And if God is with us, who can be against us?
Our God is with us, Immanuel.
Sometimes we do find ourselves in situations where we feel like we’re alone but Jesus’ very birth is a statement that we are not. God is with us.
It’s a great promise to take with us every day.
Richard Borrett
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