It is Christmas morning! Here at our home in Florida it is a beautiful sunny day (expected high of 70 this afternoon). We can only find “white” along our Emerald Coast, and although I sometimes miss the snow, I am perfectly fine with the white sands! My meditation this morning is from Matthew 1:21-23: 

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Sometimes I find it amusing that the angel told Joshua to call the baby “Jesus” because, according to Matthew’s explanation , the prophet said they would call him “Emmanuel.”  I always thought it was like someone saying, “We named our baby Sam, because the family expected us to name him Bartholomew!”  What is this all about anyway?

His name is Jesus. He is the Savior! That points us to why he came.

His name is Emmanuel.  He is God! That points us to who he is.

God became a man.  He humbled himself, clothed his Diety with our humanity, walked among us in the purity and holiness we were created to experience, and then died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and was raised from the dead to die for our sins.  The “new atheists” ridicule and sneer at the idea that God came to be with us and to die in our place. Those who don’t believe shrug their shoulders and ignore Him.  

For those of us who have believed on him, however, He is Jesus and Emmanuel. He is our Savior and our God. Through Him we are forgiven. We have eternal life. We have peace with God.  He is with us and our lives have never been the same!

Did you know that He wants to be your God as well? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved!” He really is God.  He really did die for you. He really was raised from the dead. His offer of eternal life is a valid offer.

Merry Christmas my friends.  

Thanks for reading.

Your sincere friend,

Dave Young