Immanuel

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Remember the song, Santa Claus is Coming to Town?

I can still remember lying in bed, listening intently for the sound of sleigh bells on Christmas Eve. Santa's arrival meant I had made the nice list. Proof I'd been a good girl. And if I didn't find my gift under the tree (and it happened), I'd hear the words, "Well, remember the time ...?"

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And I knew, because of the TV shows, that Santa had a magic crystal snowglobe that showed him how I'd behaved all year. 😇

Thankfully, I never sank so far into the naughty list that I found coal in my stocking. 

I still love this show. But as I have grown, I've taken the nuances of this story and grin. This is the basis of a works mindset in every human heart. Paul and James mention it often in Scripture. Santa's gifts are for the well-behaved, those who are good enough.

But we know from Paul's words in Romans 3:10 

As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one."

Oddly, this brings me hope. We're all in the same predicament. Not one of us is better than another. There's only One who is perfect, and through Him we are able to clothe ourselves in righteousness. 

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What a gift!

His name is Jesus. Or as the angel told Mary and Joseph: Immanuel, meaning God with us.

Greater than Santa Claus. The One who measures the universe with the span of His hand (Isaiah 40:12).

Please allow me to back up.

When in college, I was required to take a class on world religions. I was interested to learn that in some religions, belief in God is limited to the idea that he is afar off, watching from a distance, and uninvolved in our lives. "The big guy in the sky" kind of thinking. This left us to ourselves, I felt, with no true moral compass or structure. The thought of an uninvolved God felt empty and lonely, leaving me with nothing to guide me. Maybe I misunderstood it, but knowing and believing in a very personal and involved God has given me a perspective that leads me to hope that there is someone orchestrating and holding my life together (Psalm 139).

As we turn our hearts and minds to observe the celebration of our Lord's entry onto this earth, I can't help but think about the gift we have been given. So many don't realize--yet.

Lately, my heart has been tugged in the direction of recognizing God's presence in every aspect of life. As Christians, we know this to be true, but sadly, I think it's easy to fall into a pattern of living our lives until something hard happens and the question arises, "Where are You?" 

Jesus tells us, "and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20b). So to ask where He is seems to indicate our nearsighted vision, or human forgetfulness that God is always good on His promises. He meant it when He said, "And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed" (Deuteronomy 31:8).

He is, has always been, and always will be with us.

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One of my favorite verses of Scripture, lately, is Malachi 3:16-18:

Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. "They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "On the day that I make them My jewels, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him." Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.

Did you see that? The Lord listens to our conversations. Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20). 

He sees our heartaches, "The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit" (Psalms 34:18). He also catches our tears as the Psalmist said, "You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?" (Psalm 56:8).

But He is not only there when we are downtrodden, Zephaniah 3:17 tells us, "The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

💝 Yes, my dear friend, He sees you. 💝

He's near to the brokenhearted, and He celebrates with you also. There is nothing that has caught Him by surprise. He will never leave you (or me). He will always redeem and restore us in ways we didn't dream possible. 

Trust Him. 

His ways are so different from ours (Isaiah 55:8). We may never understand this side of eternity (Proverbs 3:5-6). But we can lean on His goodness, knowing He may not feel safe and secure at times, but He will never allow us to be harmed (Jeremiah 29:11).

Merry Christmas, with love 💜💜💜

Until next time, 💜 Karlene J 💜