Every person has their favorite gifts and their horrible ones. For many, gifts are the best part of Christmas. But what is the Christmas Gift? How is God With Us?
The story of Christmas is not a random happening but something that was planned at the beginning of time.
In the beginning, God created the world and all that is in it. He created a perfect place and created mankind to have a relationship with Him. Adam and Eve sinned and this sin created a separation between God and man.
So God made a plan to bridge that separation.
He began by choosing a people, Israel, to bring this salvation about. Throughout the next few thousand years, God remained faithful to His plan. At various times God would speak through prophets, reminding God’s people that the savior was coming.
The prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled in Jesus.
Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name, Immanuel.”
Immanuel means, God With Us
This is the miracle of Christmas. That God’s plan was to come to earth and be with us.
No other religion has a god come down to earth to be with mankind in order to save them. But Jesus did come and live with Us.
Philippians 2:6-7
“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
So Jesus came to Earth. God came down to be with us. God With Us!
John 1:1-3
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
He lived and walked among us. God With Us!
John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The very God of the universe came down to be with us. God With Us! I don’t know about you but I am humbled thinking about what Christ gave up to be with us.
When I was in college I had an area of sin that was a big struggle for me. I could not overcome this sin not matter what strategy I tried.
While reading my Bible I came across a few passages in Hebrews that helped me.
Hebrews 4:14-16
“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 2:18
“For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
Putting these two passages together, I learned that Jesus walked, lived and was tempted, without sin, in order to help those who are being tempted. He knows our struggles and he paid the price so that we could have victory over sin. Romans 6.
The gift of Christmas is that God came down to save us from our sin in Jesus.
He was born, lived and raised from among men. He lived a sinless life. He took our sin upon himself and died on the cross. He arose from the dead 3 days later. He did so, conquering sin. He left us with a promise that He will be with us always! God With Us!
The gift of Christmas is that God came down and was With Us Click To TweetGod the Holy Spirit lives within every Christian. His presence is always with us. You see God is present in our lives.
- He is with us through our trials
- He is with us through the good times
- He is with us when our world is crumbling apart
- He is with us when we are struggling with sin
- He helps us overcome sin in our lives (He empowers us)
- He listens to our needs
- He encourages us when we are down
- He gives us wisdom for the hard decisions in life
- He rejoices with us in the good times
- He goes with us
God With You
God With Us
This is the gift of Christmas.
How have your seen God’s help or presence in your life?
