Emmanuel

“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,”

Emmanuel – God with us.  The hope of the world comes to us this night as a baby born in a manger.  A meek beginning for the one who created all of us, and stepped off the throne to come and be as one of those whom he created, so that we might know His love and show forth that love to the world.

As you gather this day, remember the reason we gather with family and loved ones.  A great cloud of witnesses and bountiful love in a family here surrounds us, yet the reason we gather is to celebrate the birth of our savior! This is the night before the birth or Jesus. The birth of the one who saved you from your sins is the reason we gather this day.  This is the reason we have what we have also. God has given us everything in our lives, our families, our children, our parents, our provisions for living, are all gifts from God, and the greatest gift is the one we gather to celebrate this night!

So as we await His coming to us as a baby in the manger, remember and truly ponder that everything you have was given to you by God, and work on understanding that God calls you to work with Him, not as an advisor but as a fellow mission worker in the fields spreading His love.  Allow him to increase in your life, so that when others see you, they see Jesus, and the love and mercy that only He can give.

Gracious and loving savior, increase so in our lives that we are bubbling over with your mercy and grace, so that when people see us, they see You and are moved to be with you in relationship, so that everything you have given us will help to draw all of creation back to you.  Amen.