Immanuel – the word that says God is with us.
Immanuel – the word that names our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Immanuel – the word that reminds us that He is not distant.
Immanuel – the word of Hope.
In Scripture’s Isaiah chapter 7, we hear the word for the first time – “call him Immanuel”. Isaiah speaks the words of prophecy to King Ahaz who refuses to ask God for a sign of life and hope: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (v.14)
Isaiah speaks the words of prophecy to King Ahaz who refuses to ask God for a sign of life and hope: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (v.14)
These words foreshadow the coming of the Messiah, so many years before its fulfilment. But God did not forget His promise. He did not reject His own commitment to His creation. And as we know, that sign of Hope came in the form of Jesus through the virgin Mary. That is what we have come to celebrate each Christmas season.
Today in this Advent season, I think of King Ahaz’s refusal to ask for a sign, even when God tells him he should. And like the beautiful, majestic and all-knowing God He is, He gives the word of Hope anyway through the prophet Isaiah.
God is eager to remind us of His nearness. God does not want to leave us without Hope. But how many of us – myself included – refuse to ask God for a sign of hope in our own lives, just like King Ahaz refused.
At More Than Enough, we use the tag line all the time – Bringing Hope for Today and Freedom for Tomorrow. But we can only bring to others the Hope of God in the form of Jesus Christ. We can give practical advice. We can share our experiences and our wisdom. We can point you to God through His Son Jesus – the great Hope bringer.
But we cannot do the work for you. We cannot walk your path. We cannot solve your problems. And we cannot be with you in the darkness when all Hope seems lost.
The Triune God is our Hope. He is our Hope Bringer. He is the one who silences our fear and anxiety. HE IS THE ONE who walks with you. In Christ – in His person, His passion, and His resurrection – you have all the Hope of Heaven. Have you forgotten? Do you walk through your day thinking it is all up to you? Do you even remember His Immanuel promise that He is with you?
My challenge to myself and to you is to:
- Remember He is near.
- Invite Him into my daily stories – and yes, the financial ones – and ask Him to help me trust Him more.
- Thank Him for such promise of Hope.
This advent my prayer is that we would not be so quick to forget such a beautiful word and promise to humanity. He is with you and with me. In this season, that is the Hope we need to be reminded of.