“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” Revelation 21:3

O Immanuel, “God-with-us” is a name that takes on so many meanings to me. It means that you have taken on human flesh and have joined the human race in an unimaginable way. You took on our flesh, except for sin, and walked with us. And that wasn’t all. You took on our sin and made it your own and even died for it. O Immanuel, you took up our cause and took away our death! And that’s not all. Here you give me a vision of day, a time, and a place where you will be with me and I will be with you. We will talk together just like Adam and Eve walked with you in the garden. At your ascension you went to prepare a place for me. But never again! You will be with me. I, along with all who believe in you, will be with you and you will be with us. O Immanuel! I can’t wait for this day. And that’s not all. Until I reach my home with you and until you usher in your eternal and heavenly kingdom you will stay with me. You promise to never leave nor forsake me. You promise to give me help at the perfectly right time. And because you took on my flesh you know what I’m facing and feeling; you can understand me and so help me in just the right way. You aren’t a Savior who can’t relate to me. You can fully relate to me, except for sin, and provide me the help that I need. Stay with me today, dear Immanuel, and never leave my side. Amen.

Immanuel is a name for Jesus that means God-with-us. It means that he has taken on our human nature except for sin. It means that God has come to dwell among his people. It means that God will walk with his people. It means that we are his people and that he is our God.