Imitators of Immanuel!
Verse for Today: Monday, December 24, 2012
Isaiah 7:14 – Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.
God always wanted to be with man in fellowship and that was why man was created. But when man broke the fellowship through disobedience, God made peace with man by making Jesus Christ the bridge between God and the lost man. For a few millenniums, God had kept such linkages with man, spoke to man and allowed him to worship God. Such a relationship was far more than what man could ever expect and deserve. But God was not satisfied with that and so God made plan for Him to be with man in person for man to touch, feel, hear and have intimate involvement. So God became Immanuel for us and was born in Bethlehem like any other baby of that time. He grew up in the community for thirty years and provided the people with opportunity to interact with Him in person. At the age of twelve, He showed that He was far superior to any of the Jewish theologians in spiritual knowledge and wisdom. He worked for and served the family during His prime youth and touched the lives of people. For the next three and a half years, He took hold of a few men and interacted with them very intimately. He trained and taught them. He walked with them, talked with them and ministered among them. He attracted the neediest people in the community to Him and fed, healed and quenched their thirst for spiritual truth. He was with them all the time and prepared them to usher in His spiritual kingdom after His resurrection. Today He is with us in His holy presence and He dwells in our hearts. He is our Immanuel to lead, guide, teach, direct, correct, rebuke and to show us His love and grace in a very personal sense. He is invisible to our eyes, but His power is visible in our lives. We are today the people of Immanuel living for Him and imitating Him to be like Him.
Dear friend, are you feeling all alone and isolated in life? Is there a deep craving for fellowship and friendship in your heart? Jesus our Immanuel is with you and He is living in your heart. He is the silent monitor of all your thoughts, desires, aspirations, plans, pain and agony. He observes all your actions and understands the motives behind each action. He speaks to you regularly through your conscience. He has enlightened your inner eyes to see His ways and to walk accordingly. He directs your paths and sheds light for your feet. He holds your hands lest you falter. Immanuel is your constant companion and friend to make your moments exciting and your days colorful. He enriches your life and empowers you to attempt great things for Him here on earth. He has made you His royal priest to continuously worship and adore Him as the prime motive in your life. When you cry, He comes to wipe your tears and to comfort you. He speaks softly into your ears with soothing effect. When you engage in conversation with Him, He helps you to forget your anxieties, burdens, cares, concerns, trials and tribulations. He is your burden bearer and He provides physical, emotional and spiritual supplies to meet all your needs because He knows your needs even before you feel it. It is to provide you with such an intimate friendship that God became Immanuel. Today it is your prerogative, responsibility and privilege to trust Him to enrich your life. Let the world around you recognize you as the people of Immanuel living according to the status and dignity of the One who owns the cattle of a thousand hills and all the gold in the mines of this universe. He is God with us in His character and personality to change us into His likeness. He is challenging us to become imitators of Immanuel.
Matthew 28:20 – And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Thought for Today
Imitators of Immanuel will soon be transformed into His image.
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