Day 13 – Is God Really With Me?
Read
Isaiah 7:10-14, Matthew 1:23
This time of year, reminders of Jesus’ birth are everywhere— in Christmas carols, church nativities, and family traditions. But how many of us woke up today with the confidence that God is with us? Jesus is called “Immanuel” because He is God with us. It’s one thing to know God is with us: it’s another to experience this truth in our everyday. Jesus promised to never leave us.
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
This prophecy that occurred 700 years before the birth of Christ the Messiah brought joy and comfort in dangerous and unsettling times. With the coming of Advent, where Immanuel (God with us), came to us, we can be sure God is with us and that He experienced all we’ve been through as humans and fully understands us. Advent also means He will soon come again as He promised, this time as a conquering King to claim His children. So, no matter what our circumstances, no matter our condition, when we are in Christ, we can find deep, abiding peace now and can look forward in hope to His second coming when we will know Him fully.
The prophet Isaiah also wrote Isaiah 53 which is a very detailed prophesy of the crucifixion of Jesus and outlines Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:5-6. Jesus paid the debt for all people, and we simply need to take hold of the free gift He has given us. Jesus is the only way to the Father, and as believers, we should see it as a privilege to proclaim His Gospel to all nations and all people.
Reflect:
- How does knowing Jesus came to earth and experienced all that we go through in our lives influence our faith and help us understand He loves us perfectly?
- How do you draw strength from the over three hundred Old Testament prophesies regarding Christ and His fulfillment of all of them?