With us...

Matthew 1:22-23

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us).

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Recently I was reading some comments by Scot McKnight (author of the book Jesus Creed) on his blog Jesus Creed in regards to key advent words. He has written a brilliant series of thoughts on key words found in the Advent story... I recommend reading them. The word he was commenting on was Immanuel. In it he comments on a simple but amazingly powerful connection between the beginning of the book of Matthew and the end - God with us... and it got me thinking.

If God is with us (which I believe He is) where could we not go… what could we not do… who could we not touch? Jesus ends His earthly ministry standing on the ongoing reality and power of His incarnation... His coming to be with us. Why? I am sure that I don't know all the reasons but one I know for sure - courage!

A few nights ago my son Duncan had a nightmare. As he stumbled into our room, blurry eyed, he only asked me one thing, "Dad, can you come cuddle me... I'm afraid." As I cuddled with him in his bed (and prayed for his peace) it wasn't my rationalizing that helped him drift back to sleep... it was my presence.

Father, thank you for being with us. Thank You for sending Your Son to make that more of a reality to us. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit's ongoing work. Thank You Lord for Your promise... thank You for Your presence. Amen.