God Wants Us To Know Immanuel Every Day

One of the names for Jesus Christ is Immanuel and it is most precious – the gift God gives to all who have eyes that can see, and ears that can hear, and a heart that can believe and obey.

Matthew 1:23 – Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Today is Christmas, and it’s old news that it’s not really Jesus’ birthday, but God who sees the heart is more concerned with how people regard His Son, and whether they receive Him as their own Immanuel.

The idea of God being “with us” was and is still understood as God in us. That is, God did not only come as a human once upon a time, and then leave us, but by leaving His Spirit for His sheep, He is still with us, in us, and this is the only Christian life.

Colossians 1:27 – To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians in the inspiration of the Spirit of God that this same Spirit that moved him is as Christ in you, the hope of glory – God’s means of Immanuel never leaving, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year.

Less concerning to God is whether today is Jesus’ birthday and more is whether He lives in your heart as He intended, as He gave His life to allow you the privilege, and as is so desperately needed.

Test By Fruit

Whether this is a reality for you, whether you have entered into His rest (Heb 4), is proven less by what you claim, and more by what you are, and know in your spirit, and do by His Spirit in you.

God does not give us Christianity (as it may be practiced in human wisdom), but He gives us Christ! Jesus Christ is our tree of life that frees us from bondage to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He is infinitely more than an ethics question of “what would Jesus do?”

Christ – Immanuel – is your living link to the Most High God, if you receive Him, are so surrendered, and follow His voice. He is the brightness of the Person of God residing in you to guide you, speak to you, correct you, live His life in and through you.

Gal 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

For those who know this as a living reality, every day is as Christmas day, and every day we have the Christmas Spirit. That is, if Christmas is the celebration of Christ, we have Him in us always, and He reveals Himself in us more and more.

Revelation 3:20 – Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

John 14:21 – He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

Come to Me

Jesus’ refrain was “come to Me.” He meant to come to Him with an open heart, as a child – and stay with Him, and He promised He would never leave those who so love Him.

God loves you. Do you know it? Do you love Him in return – not just as a sentiment, or a feeling, that may come and go, but in the constancy of His Spirit that loves in action, and in heart, not just in word or doctrinal statement?

Jer 29:13 – And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

God from the beginning has sought relationship with His people, and through Immanuel in us, it is to be the ultimate.

Love is less what you say, and more what you do. The good news is God promises us Immanuel to be in us Christ, that we may know God, His righteousness, peace, joy, but this is hidden to the wise and prudent, and revealed to babes (Mt 11:25).

Immanuel is as alive today as He was 2,000 years ago – and further back to the beginning of time and into eternity past. He will live forever, and is the eternal God.

He is more than knowable, He is willing to set up residence in your very being, to shape and mold you into His very likeness, if you are willing to lose your own life in return.

It is worth it. Indeed, it is all you want, what you were made for, and why you live.

Have you heard Him, and do you know it?