Advent Conspiracy Devotional: Wednesday, December 15th

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

Reflection: Jesus Christ is God’s perfect representation of love for us.  And Jesus is also the demonstration of the lengths that God will go to be in relationship with us.

            The message that Jesus’ presence and life have for us is clearly delineated in the name that the Angel tells Mary to give her son – Immanuel.  The first message that Jesus sends, before he spoke the sermon on the mount or performed any miracles is the message of his very presence with us.

            The story of Jesus is so familiar to us that we sometimes miss its uniqueness and importance.  God – the very maker of the universe [God whose power is such that the universe was created simply by God speaking it into existence] 

            Our God is not aloof and far away, but because of the desire for reconciliation and the restoration of relationship God chooses to come near to us, so that we may draw near to him.  God loves us and wants to be close to us.

Question: When have you felt that God was drawing near to you?

Is there a time you felt distant from God?