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Matthew 1:22, 23 - HIS NAME IS IMMANUEL.

Matthew 1:22, 23 (NKJV) So all this was done 
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by 
the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, 
the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, 
and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is 
translated, "God with us."  

COMMENTARY PEARL

God With Us
   "The virgin will conceive and give birth 
to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" 
(which means "God with us"). Matthew 1:23 
   God is always near us. Always for us. 
Always in us. We may forget him, but God will never 
forget us. We are forever on his mind and in his 
plans. He called himself " 'Immanuel' (which means 
'God with us')." 
   Not just "God made us."
   Not just "God thinks of us."
   Not just "God above us.'
   But God with us. God where we are: at the 
office, in the kitchen, on the plane. He breathed 
our air and walked this earth. God  with  
us! 
   God is always near us. By the way, 
Bethlehem was just the beginning. Jesus has promised a 
repeat performance. Bethlehem, Act 2. No silent 
night this time, however. The skies will open, 
trumpets will blast, and a new kingdom will begin. He 
will empty the tombs and melt the winter of 
death. He will press his thumb against the 
collective cheek of his children and wipe away all 
tears. The manger invites, even dares us to believe 
the best is yet to be. [Max Lucado Daily 
Devotional at maxlucado.com] 

COMMENTARY

   I love the whole Christmas story in the 
Bible, but if I had to pick a favorite Christmas 
verse, Matthew 1:23 would be it. There's just 
nothing else that expresses what really happened - 
what Christmas means - like "God with us." 
   We have a tradition in our family that 
illustrates the beauty of this concept. Every Christmas 
Eve, the whole Triple F Ranch family gathers at 
my house. We make cookies, turtles, Mexican 
food, and mischief of one kind or another. The 
culminating event is a live nativity play, which is cast 
and directed by all of the children. The 
best-laid plans are always perfect until the play 
starts - and then chaos ensues. Crowns fall off, 
angels fight for positions, baby Jesus cries, and 
Joseph ends up smacking somebody with his staff. It 
is always a comedy of errors - a complete zoo. 
Not unlike life. 
   Wasn't your spouse perfect before you got 
married? Your vacation perfect before you took it? 
What about retirement? My kids were perfect 
before I had them. So was my job. In my head, 
church is perfect, and so are friendships, and so 
am I. And then there is what happens outside my 
head, in real life. But Jesus enters into the 
mess, the joy, the heartache, the accidents, the 
headaches, the good choices, and the bad. He is with us 
through it all. Gwen Ford Faulkenberry 
   Faith Step: As you decorate your house 
for Christmas, put baby Jesus somewhere 
prominent. Every time you see Him, remember the name 
"Immanuel": God came to be with you. [Mornings With 
Jesus 2022 Devotional by Guideposts and 
Zondervan] 

How You Can Get to the Heart of Christmas
   As a kid, I used to love getting up on 
Christmas morning and rushing into the living room to 
get ready to hopefully receive all the gifts I 
had requested. But as I look back as an adult on 
those Christmases, something sticks out as much 
more important and much more treasured than just 
opening presents: opening the Word of God. 
   Every Christmas morning before any of 
those presents were opened, our family would spend 
some time opening Gods Word, reading the story 
of that first Christmas, and praying and 
thanking God for the gift He had given us in His 
Son. 
   Its so easy in our day and age for 
Christmas to become more and more about whats under 
the tree. But lets never forget the real 
reason for the season: Jesus Christ. Hes the one 
the prophecies of the Old Testament pointed 
towards, and the one who ushered in the covenant of 
the New Testament. 
   As you and your loved ones prepare to 
celebrate Christmas, I want to encourage you to take 
the step of reading Gods Word together as a 
part of your celebration. Dont neglect the 
heart of the Christmas season. Put Christ first in 
your Christmas and youll create memories that 
last forever! 
   Open Gods Word With Your Loved Ones 
This Christmas Season And Experience The Heart Of 
What Christmas Is Really About. [PowerPoint Today 
by Jack Graham; 
https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/powerpoint/]  

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

   Stillness is increasingly hard to come by 
in this restless, agitated world. You must 
fight to carve out time for Me. Distractions come 
at you from all sides when you try to sit 
quietly with Me. But our intimate connection is 
worth fighting for, so don't give up! Set aside 
uninterrupted time to spend with Me. Focus on a favorite 
scripture, and breathe deeply to help yourself unwind. 
Remember that I am Immanuel - God with you. Relax in 
My peaceful Presence, letting your concerns 
slip away. Be still, My loved one, and know that 
I am God.  
   The longer you gaze at Me, the more you 
can rejoice in My majestic splendors - and trust 
in My sovereign control. Though the earth give 
way and the mountains fall into the heart of the 
sea, I am your Refuge. There is transcendent 
stability in My Presence. As you ponder the vastness 
of My Power and Glory, your perspective will 
change, and your problems will look smaller. In this 
world you will have trouble. But take heart! I 
have overcome the world. (Mat. 1:23; Psa. 46:10; 
46:1, 2; John 16:33) [Jesus Always by Sarah 
Young] 

My Savior-God,
   Help me to rest deeply in You, forgetting 
about the worries of the world. May Your living 
Presence envelop me in Peace as I focus on You - 
Immanuel. I find comfort in Your eternal security, 
knowing that You are the same yesterday, today, and 
forever. 
   Sometimes I live too much on the surface 
of life - focusing on ever-changing phenomena. 
If I consistently live this way, I eventually 
reach the point where I echo the sentiment of 
Solomon: "Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is 
meaningless." 
   I'm learning that the way to instill 
meaning into my days is to live in collaboration 
with You. I need to begin each day alone with You 
so I can experience the reality of Your 
Presence. As I spend time focusing on You and Your 
Word, I ask You to open up the way before me step 
by step. When I arise from this peaceful time 
of communion and begin my journey through the 
day, I'm aware that You go with me. I hold on to 
Your hand in deliberate dependence on You - and 
You smooth out the path before me. Thank You, 
Jesus! 
   In Your strong, dependable Name, Jesus, 
Amen. (Matthew 1:23; Hebrews 13:8 NKJV; 
Ecclesiastes 1:2; Proverbs 3:6 NASB [Jesus Listens by 
Sarah Young] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY 

Matthew 1:22, 23 - MERRY CHRISTMAS!

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20191224-0748.html 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2018/20181225-0801.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/