Dear Daily Message Readers,
READ: Isaiah 9:2-7, John 1:9-14
Isaiah 7:14 (NIV) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
John 1:14 (NLT) So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.
Emmanuel is a Hebrew word which means God with us. This simple term holds so much within a few Hebrew letters. As we read the birth stories in the Gospels, the Scriptures tell of God becoming like us in the form of the baby Jesus. The first miracle of Emmanuel is that Christ came down to live among us 2,000 years ago as a baby in a manger. But there is more. The message of Emmanuel also tells of a God who continues to be with us always, even unto the end of the world (Mt. 28:20). Christ has sent a Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God, to be God with us. Finally, Emmanuel is a vision of the future. Not only do we look back to the first coming of Christ, but we hope for his future Second Coming when we will finally be united with God in a new heaven and new earth forever.
Faith Lesson: Praise God that He is with us yesterday, today, and tomorrow!
In Christ,
Bryan Peters
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READ: Isaiah 9:2-7, John 1:9-14
Isaiah 7:14 (NIV) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
John 1:14 (NLT) So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
The words of this Christmas hymn are beginning to be heard around the country as people look forward to the Christmas holiday. Most, however, will not understand the meaning behind the words. And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Emmanuel is a Hebrew word which means God with us. This simple term holds so much within a few Hebrew letters. As we read the birth stories in the Gospels, the Scriptures tell of God becoming like us in the form of the baby Jesus. The first miracle of Emmanuel is that Christ came down to live among us 2,000 years ago as a baby in a manger. But there is more. The message of Emmanuel also tells of a God who continues to be with us always, even unto the end of the world (Mt. 28:20). Christ has sent a Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God, to be God with us. Finally, Emmanuel is a vision of the future. Not only do we look back to the first coming of Christ, but we hope for his future Second Coming when we will finally be united with God in a new heaven and new earth forever.
Faith Lesson: Praise God that He is with us yesterday, today, and tomorrow!
In Christ,
Bryan Peters
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