Not so fast!

Christmas is over. Or is it? There may be at least a couple of reasons to be careful about moving on too quickly. And besides, they’re still playing Christmas commercials on television, so why not?

Seriously though, I’m slowing down for one very profound reason. The reality of this phrase — “God is with us.”

The phrase “God is with us” starting playing itself over and over in my mind the day before Christmas until I realized it was going to be my point of meditation for the entire week right into the new year. Here is how the meditation goes. Each time the phrase is repeated, a different word is emphasized while the layers of meaning are unpacked. Hang in here with me and see where the Lord takes it for you. Will you write us and share your own verses or insights? We’d love to hear from you and pray blessings on this reflective week for you also.

God is with us.

Matthew 1:23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

GOD is with us.

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

God IS with us.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

God is WITH us.

Romans 8:28-31 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

God is with US.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

GOD IS WITH US!

Luke 2:11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

1 John 5:20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Lord God, we cannot possibly thank you enough for your nearness and availability to us! Please keep our hearts soft toward You and contagious about how You are filling us with Yourself. Teach us and mold us progressively into Your image as You promise to do so that we enjoy and demonstrate Your love, grace and power this coming year, especially to those who have not yet experienced the reality of GOD WITH US. Together we praise You, the One True God who humbled Yourself to become flesh and then die the most gruesome of deaths that WE might LIVE. Halleluia, Emanuel! Amen