A WHOLE NEW LEVEL

They would call Him Immanuel…God with us.  This was much more than an appearance, this was an arrival!  This was not an appearance in a burning bush.  This was not an appearance of a “pillar of fire” in the night sky, nor a cloud by day.  He was arriving to live at our location, on our terrain, and in our flesh; the heart of God with skin on.  How amazing is that?  God was not watching “from a distance,” and contrary to what some thought, He was not beyond or removed from their existence.  In fact, He was coming into the middle of their lives…right with them.

This Jesus would walk in regular sandals on dusty roads.  He would sit filled with fatigue and thirst at a well, and still refresh a broken, defeated woman with “living” water.  No chariots or majestic carriages would hoist and carry Him from place to place.  In fact, at His highest earthly moment, he would ride in on a young donkey, not even an adorned majestic horse…not yet, not here, for He was with us.  He had come to a much lower level to lift us to a much higher level.

All other world religions have focused on our getting to God.  There seems to be no end to the foolish schemes, human philosophies, and spiritual fads that make great claims but produce no change.  Immanuel changed millions forever and even the world calendar became centered on His coming.

Christianity was never and must never be only another religion.  Christianity is the demonstration of relationship so desired that heaven would come to earth so that we might “know” Him and His Son.  He would be emptied so we could be filled.  He would be humbled so we could be lifted.  He would bleed in order to stop our bleeding; He would die so we could live; and He would be raised so we could be….like Him.  Do you have that?  Do you “know” Him?

“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 (NKJV)

Your father's heart