Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the ever—lasting Lord:
Long-desired, beyond him come,
Finding here his humble home.
Veiled in flesh, the God-head see
Hail the Incarnate Deity!
Pleased as men with men to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.
The name of the promised baby Emmanuel, God with us, is far more than an expression. It means far more than that God understands us. It means that God is with us. Physically, truly with us. Not apart from us. Not up in heaven or off in some other world detached from and unconcerned about our lives, our hopes and fears, our choices, decisions and indecisions, our thoughts and words and deeds; no: God is with us.
Jesus said it this way: "Wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I" -- where? -- in the midst of them. And if we press the question, "Where in the midst of us?" the gospel gives these answers:
1. In the bread and wine which are not only signs of his presence, but his body broken for us, his blood shed for us.
2. In his word, in which he assures us of God's unconditional love for us in spite of us being naughty or nice.
3. In the ministry of one believer to another, through the acts of “giving a cup of cold water in my name.” Not just saying nice things, but actually living it out through our actions through ministering to the needs of others through acts of caring and compassion.
In all these things, we know God as Emmanuel, God with us. If you are searching and seeking after God, you can find Him because He is Emmanuel, God with us. He is with us as we come together in Worship, with us as we live in community with one another, and with us as we reach out and serve the needs of those around us.
How can we as a church take Emmanuel into the Brainerd Lakes area? What can you do as a family and individual this Christmas season to take Emmanuel into your neighborhood or work place or school?
People are searching for God in a lot of places, and yet, as Christ Followers, we already know where He is. He is Emmanuel, God with us. Don’t keep Him hidden from those who are searching for Him. Share Jesus with someone today, so they too can experience Emmanuel, God with us.
Pastor Dave
Christ, the ever—lasting Lord:
Long-desired, beyond him come,
Finding here his humble home.
Veiled in flesh, the God-head see
Hail the Incarnate Deity!
Pleased as men with men to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.
The name of the promised baby Emmanuel, God with us, is far more than an expression. It means far more than that God understands us. It means that God is with us. Physically, truly with us. Not apart from us. Not up in heaven or off in some other world detached from and unconcerned about our lives, our hopes and fears, our choices, decisions and indecisions, our thoughts and words and deeds; no: God is with us.
Jesus said it this way: "Wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I" -- where? -- in the midst of them. And if we press the question, "Where in the midst of us?" the gospel gives these answers:
1. In the bread and wine which are not only signs of his presence, but his body broken for us, his blood shed for us.
2. In his word, in which he assures us of God's unconditional love for us in spite of us being naughty or nice.
3. In the ministry of one believer to another, through the acts of “giving a cup of cold water in my name.” Not just saying nice things, but actually living it out through our actions through ministering to the needs of others through acts of caring and compassion.
In all these things, we know God as Emmanuel, God with us. If you are searching and seeking after God, you can find Him because He is Emmanuel, God with us. He is with us as we come together in Worship, with us as we live in community with one another, and with us as we reach out and serve the needs of those around us.
How can we as a church take Emmanuel into the Brainerd Lakes area? What can you do as a family and individual this Christmas season to take Emmanuel into your neighborhood or work place or school?
People are searching for God in a lot of places, and yet, as Christ Followers, we already know where He is. He is Emmanuel, God with us. Don’t keep Him hidden from those who are searching for Him. Share Jesus with someone today, so they too can experience Emmanuel, God with us.
Pastor Dave
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