Emmanuel. God with us. God, in perfect human form, entered the world to be with His broken people and save us from our darkness. He entered this world so humbly, to be born in a manger, not to be served, but on one mission of serving His people. I wish I could see it, that little run down manger He was born in. I wish I could see the look of joy and wonder on Mary’s tired face. All fears and doubts gone as she holds her baby boy, awestruck at this miracle child. I bet she barely noticed she was still in a manger as she held him for the first time. God with us. The Lamb has come to take away the sin of the world. Once and for all. The long, age old promise is fulfilled. The world waited for this day for years. The Messiah. And finally, in His perfect timing, God sent His Son. And He came. The long awaited Savior of the world. The day that everything changed. No longer must the world sit in their shame and sins. No longer is any other sacrifice necessary for forgiveness. God with us. He has removed the sins of the world. New mercies and new life. Freedom and healing. Joy and hope for what is to come. If only we make room for Him. Every inn Mary and Joseph visited while in Bethlehem gave them the same response, “there is no room for you here” Oh, if they only knew what they were missing out on! What blessing they were passing away because they were already too full. I, also, must prepare room for my Savior. He cannot be fully in my life when I am full of this world, material items, my desires and my selfishness. Oh, I do not want to be like those in the inn that weren’t able to see the blessing pass by them because they were too full. Jesus. God with us. He has come and is knocking on the doors of our hearts just as Mary knocked on the doors of the inn- are we too full? I wish I could’ve seen it all. My sweet Savior as a baby laying in the manger. I wish I could sit in wonder of His beauty and humility. I wish I, like those around, could show up excitedly, offering all I have for this little King. But, for now, I will sit in His sweet and near presence, lean into His promises and the hope I have in the simple words- God with us. He is near and I feel it. My Savior, my reward. My gift, my all in all. The Christmas story has come alive to me this year. I have felt Him as my reward and seen the true joy that came from the sweet manger. Yes, I missed loved ones this Christmas, but the Lord knew how deeply I needed this slow and quiet Christmas to pull me near to His presence. I needed to step back to be humbled and see the Truth of it all, finally. This year, I have found so much joy in sitting in the living room next to our little tree, reading the Christmas story, praising my Savior and waiting to celebrate with my sweet teammates. God with us.
