“While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God’s angel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—‘God saves’—because he will save his people from their sins.” This would bring the prophet’s embryonic sermon to full term: Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son; They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for “God is with us”).”
Matthew 1:21 MSG – A verse of the day from the Bible presented in Eugene Peterson’s contemporary version called The Message. Accompanied by a personal reflection below.
God is with us! Of all the things that God could choose for a name, He chose one that served to offer comfort: God is with us, for us, within us! This past summer, I found a simple coffee mug, yellow in color, with just those words inscribed on the outside. I stand amazed at a God who cared so deeply even in the choosing of the name to select one that would comfort and reassure me of His presence with me. During this Christmas season, I hope and trust that you will feel God’s presence even closer to you as you commemorate this supernatural event: the advent of God in flesh in order to be with you and me.