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.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.
Matthew 1:22-25 NKJV
God is with us. That’s one of the great reminders that Christmas brings. God the Son became one of us so He could be one with us. The word “with” is a part of speech known as a preposition. That’s a word that describes the relationship between 2 things or people. The New Testament is full of prepositions describing God’s position relative to us, both individually and as a group. God is with us, in us, on us, among us, and for us. He came to us to work through us.
Some samples to remember:
- Make disciples, and He’s in it with you. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20)
- Take care of the temple. “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)
- Whatever situation you’re in, you have help. God is on your side. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
- Jesus died in your place; live like it. “Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” (1 Corinthians 5:7)
- You have ability beyond your own strength. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
- If you want to see the glory, share your faith. “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.” (1 Peter 4:14)
He is among us when we gather:
- Lay aside your idols and worship the real thing. “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM. I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.”” (2 Corinthians 6:16)
- Respect the holiness of the church. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
- Pray like Jesus is in the house. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:19-20)
Here’s the point: God is personally present with you, in you, and upon you. You are never alone. He is present in a unique way when we gather in His Name to worship and be fed from His Word. The gathering of the saints is a holy thing. He walks among us, in our midst, every time we come together. As we worship today, let’s do it as if we believe that Jesus is in the house. Merry Christmas!
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