"Immanuel" . . . Maybe My Favorite Name for God

Walking in the Truth during Advent

Today's Devotional Thoughts *

"Where is God . . . The Christian story that informs the Christian calendar gives its followers time & opportunity to remember the coming of Christ in a specific context--in Bethlehem, in the Nativity, in the first Christmas. But it also presents repeated opportunities & reminders to prepare for the coming of Christ again & again . . . the Christian worldview is one that asks every day of every year:  How will Christ come near today? Will I wait for Him? Am I ready for Him? Am I even expecting to find Him? We are reminded to keep watch, to be prepared, & to continually ready our hearts & minds for the one who is already near. At the same time, the Christian story would also have us to remember how unexpectedly Christ at times appears--as a baby in Bethlehem, a man on a cross, as a woman in need.

"In the book of Titus, we read that "the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all people." [Titus 2:11] How & where will grace show up this week? In order to stay alert to the rich possibilities, perhaps we need to keep before us the radical thought of all that God has offered:  a Christ child who comes down to us, a Redeemer willing to die for us, a God willing to redefine what is near--all so that we might be where God is. Christianity is not an escape system for us to avoid reality, to live above it, or to be able to redefine it. Christianity is a way that leads the world to grasp what reality is & by God's grace & help, to navigate through it to our eternal home in God's presence.

"The story God has given indeed feeds the hungry, + takes in the stranger, & orients the resident alien who is ever-looking homeward. The focus of Christ's coming is the message of Immanuel--God is with us. The focus of Christ's earthly ministry is the declaration of the cross--God is for us. ++ And the focus of Christ's resurrection is the promise of a future & His imminent return--God will bring us safely home. Until then, God is among us, +++ even when it seems most unlikely."

Today's Thoughts from Scriptures

+ "For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat . . . " Matthew 25:35a [SEE Matthew 25:31-40 for a deeper context.]

++ "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31 [SEE Romans 8:31-39 for a deeper context.]

+++ "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt. 28:29b [SEE Matthew 28:16-20 for a deeper context.]

Today's Prayer Thoughts

Today I choose stanzas 1 & 4 of a favorite Christmas hymn, "O Little Town of Bethlehem" (LW #59).

"O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above the deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light.
The hopes & fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in. Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
Oh, come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel!

One Last Note about this Source

Our chapel theme was "Walking in the Truth, but since I didn't write Advent devotionals for the Lutheran High Northeast Daily Bulletin in 2014-2015, due to my medical leave, I first "borrowed" some devotional thoughts from Martin Luther; more recently from daily devotionals found in "A Slice of Infinity, a resource of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. Ravi Zacharias is a Christian apologist--a noted writer & speaker. Even though this is not a "Lutheran" source, I have made this site a part of my daily "quiet time" for a long time, & it has been very meaningful for me. [Dare I suggest, "orthodox"?]

My next devotions will be an original.

* Source:  "A Slice of Infinity," RZIM Daily Devotional, by Stuart McAllister, 12/10/15.