What Immanuel Means for You

Daily Devotional: Day 168

“So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us” (Matthew 1:22-23, NKJV).

Isaiah prophesied about Jesus’ birth over seven hundred years before the event occurred. The Gospel of Matthew recalled this prophecy, noting that the Messiah shall be called Immanuel, a name which means “God with us.” Interestingly, there’s no record in the New Testament which shows that people called Jesus by the name Immanuel. Nevertheless, Jesus fulfilled the meaning of the name. His entire life was a demonstration of the fact that “God is with us.” Wherever Jesus showed up, lives were changed; the seemly impossible became possible. Just before He was taken up to heaven, He reminded us that He will always be God with us. He promised, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, emphasis added).

On the surface, the name “God is with us” sounds cliché. However, if we examine it carefully, we’ll find that God is sending us a profound message. In the history of Israel, there were times when the people thought that God had forgotten them (cf. Isaiah 49:14-15). When Lazarus died, Martha said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21, emphasis added). You can go through difficult times and God may seem ‘non-existent’ or unreachable. This might leave you wondering about many things. But, everything changes when you realize that the Lord is with you. Jesus is always here with you. With God, a virgin conceived and gave birth. With God, Lazarus came back from the dead. With God, there was enough bread for five thousand people. With God, Mary Magdalen was set free. The list goes on.

Jesus didn’t come into the world to show you what is impossible. He came to show you that with God all things are possible. When you and Jesus work together, there is no obstacle you cannot overcome. When you and Jesus work together, there is no enemy you cannot defeat. Today, Jesus wants to remind you that He still is Immanuel, “God with us,” fighting for His people, turning impossible into possible. Stay calm, and be joyful.

May the Lord supply all your needs in accordance with His tender mercies! Amen.  

For further study: Joshua 1:1-9