It was the prophet Isaiah who used the term “Immanuel” in his prophecy. God with us.
We are not alone. Not at Christmas time. Not in seasons of waiting or celebration. Not when we sin and cause hot messes for those around us.
Immanuel. God with us.
He does not say he is the “get out of jail free” God or the “Hide and seek” God or the “Simon Says” God. No. He is the “God with us” God.
He promises his presence. As his image bearers and those who have voted for presence with our lives, this word holds a special place for us.
“God wants to always be with us, wherever we may be – in our sin, suffering and death. We are no longer alone; God is with us.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer
It it our final word for 2017. Together, this week we will soak in the richness of all that presence entails.
Join us in the comments all week and link your own blog post at The Grove. Share on Instagram with #VelvetAshesPresence and share how you are present in your world, how God is present to you, and where you have seen presence recently.
I am running a small Bible School for Sudanese, some refugees and some leaders from Sudan that have come to study with us. Often I feel like a pinprick, like what I’m doing is so small but I was encouraged this week by the story of the shepherds and how God came to such simple people and that maybe God likes simple people. I feel privileged to be close to people the world has forgotten or prefers to ignore.