’Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ’God with us’ —Matthew 1:23
I may not always “feel” the presence of God; but He is with us. He is with me. Christmas is not about the Christmas “spirit” or a “holiday” feeling or even “good will to men.” Christmas is a fact of history. God is with us and that changes everything. Through His presence we have access to Him, and His redemption, salvation, sanctification.
If I observe and listen in the Spirit, I can confirm His presence. I see him in the face of a child. I feel His arms as I wrap mine around a little one or a loved one. I can look the the footsteps of my history and see His presence and intervention in my life. I can see lives changed by the hearing of the Gospel and the work of the Spirit.
God is with us and that means everything.
Merry Christmas.
Nick