Daily Devotions
Immanuel, God With Us
Reading for October 2nd: Matthew 1-4
"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel"
(which means, God with us).
Matthew 1:23
When Moses spoke to his people for the last time, he wanted them to see how the nations around them would see them, marveling over their special relationship with God:
Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? Deut 4:6-7
Not only did Israel receive the law from God (which made them wise and righteous), but they had a unique relationship with their God. It was unlike anything the nations had ever heard. The true God of heaven had chosen them, delivered them, provided for them, and given them a special land in which they could dwell (Deut 4:32-40), and when they came to the place where God would put his name, they would have communion with him, and He would hear and respond to their prayers (2 Chron 7:15-16).
This relationship between God and his people was unique. No other nation could claims anything like it. But as special as that was, consider how much more amazing is our relationship with God today. God became a man and dwelt among us. He became just like us so that he could sympathize with our weaknesses and ultimately to die for our sins, saving us from death and opening the way for us into the very presence of God (Heb 2:14-18; 10:19-22).
I want to challenge everyone this morning to just think about the presence of God. God loves each and every one of us, his children. He wants nothing more than to hear from us and to be near to us today.
Imagine that...
Great God and Father in Heaven, what an amazing thought that you would call us, redeem us, and own us as a precious possession!
