Daily Devotional For Monday, December 2, 2024

The Christmas word we are focusing on today is actually one Jesus’ names — Immanuel. In the book of Isaiah, God told us that a Savior was coming about 700 years before Jesus’ birth. The Bible says this in Isaiah 7:14, “All right then, the Lord Himself will give you the sign. Look! The Virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’) — NLT).

Immanuel means “God with us.” That’s the best news you will ever hear. God is with you. Jesus proves it. How could God make it any more clear that He is with you than to take on flesh and become one of us? He is with you in your pain, confusion, questions, and even in your doubts. He knows your name. Look at what Isaiah 49:16 says, “See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands” (NIV). You are God’s tattoo! He even knows how many hairs are on your head — and their original color. Jesus said this in Luke 12:7, “And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows” (NLT). So, God is with you. He’s not against you. He’s for you. And the Bible says this in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” (NLT). God is on your side and He wants what’s best for you. God is your biggest fan. Why else would He do all that He has done for you?

In the Old Testament, God called Himself the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Do you get it? God called Himself by the names of people who trusted Him. Were they perfect? Of course not. They made a lot of mistakes. Take Abraham, for example. He had a baby with his housemaid and tried to sell his wife to the Egyptians. He eventually got Sarah back, but I can just imagine the conversation they had the night she came home. It really is a miracle they ever had a son! You might read about Abraham’s escapades and say, “What a knucklehead! What was he thinking? What was God thinking?! How could God use a guy like that?” 

But people could say the same thing about any of us. God says, “I am the God of Abraham. Yeah, that guy. The screwball. Take a good, close look at him. Why? Because he believes me. Sure, he makes mistakes. So what? Of course he’s not perfect. But I’m patient. I can work through him, in spite of all that, because he calls on My name. He takes Me at my word. He trusts me. So I am his God. I call myself by his name. He belongs to me and I belong to him. And in My book, he is a giant of faith. Even the most valuable diamond has flaws.”

Just as God says, “I am the God of Abraham,” so he says, “I am the God of __________(insert your name here). In fact, God says, “I’ve got your picture on the fridge. I think about you day and night and I love you with all My heart. Sure you make mistakes — lots of mistakes — but I am determined to finish what I have started in you. You call on My name. So I call Myself by your name. You belong to Me, and I belong to you. Why? Because you trust Me. And I never forsake those who trust Me.” 

God is with you. You don’t have to be perfect. (Although I strongly advise that you don’t try to sell your wife to the Egyptians! God will forgive you, but your wife? . . . That’s another story.) Rest in this truth this Christmas: God is with you. He sent Jesus, Immanuel, to prove it. Never give up on your walk with Him. He will never give up on His walk with you.

Questions To Consider & Actions To Do

1. Take a minute and use the Internet to look up the meaning of your name and the names of your children. Share that with your family or someone. In biblical days, names were given with specific meanings in hope that the child’s character would one day emulate that meaning? Does your character resemble the meaning of your name? Do your children? Take a moment to go around with your family and share this and ask them what does that mean to them as well as to you?
2. Everyone God called in the Bible was not perfect. They made huge mistakes and sometimes huge sins. Yet, many of them are listed in the “Hall of Faith” In Hebrews 11. Take your Bible and look at these names. See if you can identify their imperfections and how God still used them. What does this tell you about “God is with us” and why?
3. If God is for us as Romans 8:31 says but then asks, “Who can be against us”, the answer could be just about everyone who is not a committed disciple of Jesus Christ. So, why do you think Paul asks this rhetorical question and what does it mean? I’ll give you a hint. The context is about the security of our salvation. Once God gives us salvation, no one is able to take it from us. Take your Bible and read Psalm 27:1. How does this assure you that God is with you?
4. Take a moment to share at least one mistake or sin you have committed and how God is still using you in spite of that? If you have children, have them pick a mistake they have made and have them share what they learned from it and how this assures them that God is with them.
5. Take your Bible and read Romans 8:35-39. How do these verses reaffirm that God is with you?

Scripture To Meditate On:  Matthew 1:23, Gabriel said to Joseph, ““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’” (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: “Lord. Jesus. Immanuel. God with us. I am so grateful that You will never abandon or forsake me. You are always with me, watching over me and working on my behalf. Even when I mess up, You are here to clean up my messes. I thank You that even when I am unfaithful, You remain faithful. I pray that You will help me to live a life that puts a smile on Your face. I love You Jesus. In Your Precious name, Amen!”

I love you Southside!—Pastor Kelly