December 5 - God With Us

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, 'God with us'" (Matthew 1:23 NKJV)

Immanuel (or, Emmanuel) means "God with us," and this captures the heart of Christmas. Think about it - God could have remained distant from our struggles. He could have just shouted instructions from heaven or sent messengers with His commands. But that's not what He did.

In the Old Testament, God's presence dwelt in the tabernacle among His people. The Israelites could see the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night (see Exodus 13:21-22). They knew God was with them. But that was just a preview of something greater coming.

When John writes that "the Word dwelt among us (John 1:14)," he uses the word "dwelt" that literally means "tabernacled." Jesus Christ was God, setting up His tent right in our neighborhood. No longer would God need to live in buildings made with hands. The very presence of God showed up among us in human flesh.

This incarnation does not mean that God became less than He is. It wasn't a subtraction of Deity - it was the addition of humanity. Jesus didn't stop being God to become man; He took on human nature while remaining fully God. Paul tells us that in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). Whatever it means to be God, Jesus is completely that.

He's not 50% God and 50% man - He's 100% God and 100% man. When our little minds can't fully comprehend how Jesus can be fully divine and fully human, that's the moment to set aside our confusion, bow our knees, and worship that God that we don't yet fully understand. Paul did precisely that when reflecting on Who God is. He writes in Romans 11:33, "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!"

Reflection Question: How does contemplating that Jesus is the Living Tabernacle, and that God resided on Earth with His people, affect your worship and submission to Him this season?

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to be "God with us." Help me recognize Him as the Living Tabernacle, the fullness of the Godhead bodily. When I struggle to comprehend the mystery of Him being fully God and fully man, help me set aside my confusion and simply bow and worship You. I worship You, the God I cannot fully comprehend. In Jesus' Name, amen.