The best thing about Christmas is having God with us

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:1,2). King David, from his youth, delighted in the presence of God. And in this Psalm, he shows how much his soul longed to be with Him.

Matthew 1:23 introduces us to one of Jesus’ names: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).”. Jesus came into this world embodying God’s desire to be among us. He became man to bring salvation, life and joy to those who would accept him. God with us means we will never be separated from his love. Romans 8: 38-39 says, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” His presence guarantees we can fulfill what he has appointed and called us to do on this earth. 1 Chronicles 22: 17-19 says, “Then David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. He said to them, “Is not the LORD your God with you? And has he not granted you rest on every side? For he has given the inhabitants of the land into my hands, and the land is subject to the LORD and to his people. Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD.”

God’s presence is more significant than our fears, worries, and dissatisfactions. Hebrews 13:5 says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” On a more personal level, God is with all those who believe in him—those who have been born again. In John 3:3, Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ”

Looking back on our past, we realize we might not be alive if God Immanuel hadn't been with us. How many times has he saved us from accidents, cured us of incurable diseases, and saved us from death? How often did He come to be with us when we were desperate and at our limits? At other times, we were alone, and he visited us with his presence, bringing us hope.

God's story in the Old Testament shows us that when He, the Immanuel God, is present, the unimaginable happens: Bread comes down from heaven, a river divides its waters to make a way, the walls of Jericho fall, water turns to blood in Egypt, the sun stops in the sky, Daniel survives the den of lions, the prophet Elijah is taken up to heaven alive, the oil of the widow of Serepta is multiplied, a prophet resurrects a child, Jonah survives after three days in the belly of a whale, and so many other events.

But the greatest event was when God came to be among us in person. His arrival divided history into Before Christ and After Christ. He was born in a manger, the greatest gift humanity has ever received. At Jesus’ birth, when the Angel came to tell the shepherds the good news, he said: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” (Luke 2:10). He came to be with us, so his birth is a reason for great joy because his presence would mean that we would no longer be the same. We would no longer walk in darkness, lost and condemned to eternal punishment because God Emmanuel was coming into the world to bring salvation to those who would receive him.

Changes in destiny marked God's presence on earth through Jesus: The blind and deaf were healed, the paralyzed walked, the dead were raised, storms were calmed, and water became wine. Lives were transformed: Simon, a rash man, became an apostle full of God's authority. Because of his personality, John was called the "son of thunder" and became the apostle of love. Saul, who was a persecutor of Christians, became the Apostle Paul of the Gentiles. And the list is so long that I can't go on. Do you understand that when God is present, something happens? When Jesus, God Emmanuel, is with us, our lives are never the same again.

I believe I only have one problem to solve in my life: to have or not to have the presence of God. I'm in great danger if I don't have God's presence. Any evil can happen to me. I am vulnerable and could fall into an abyss at any moment. Without protection and light, I am helpless.

However, if I have the presence of God Immanuel with me, I can rest because his company brings us peace and rest. If I'm in despair, he comforts me. If I'm sick, he heals me or gives me the grace to pass through the valley. He meets all my needs. When He is with me, He corrects and guides me. If I feel lonely or sad, He strokes my heart. He shows me the way when I don't know what decision to make. When my enemies rise to destroy me, they stumble and fall. When I feel tired, He brings me relief. If I need wisdom, I ask for it, and He provides it. So, my only problem in this life is the absence of God.

If Jesus, the Emmanuel God, is with me, I don’t have to worry about the future because he will be there waiting for me when I get there. I can rest in his promises. God is omnipresent, and He is everywhere, but when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, He begins to dwell within us. That’s why Jesus said, “.. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20).

The best thing about Christmas is having God with us. Through his Spirit, who dwells in those who have been born again, and through his word, Jesus lives among his people. This Christmas, let's bring him the gift of devotion. Meditate on him, on his greatness and glory. Surrender at his feet as the shepherds did in Belen: with great joy and be filled with gladness, for such is his presence. Merry Christmas!

Thank you for reading. Leave a comment and share it on Facebook. Thank you. Helia