Immanuel: God With Us

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." (Matthew 1:23 NKJ citing Isaiah 7:14))

Seventeen year-old Butch cautiously walked out into the river. His uncle was teaching him to swim at his old swimming hole. When he reached his uncle, they switched places, Butch with his back to the middle of the river and his uncle facing him. The water was only waist deep so Butch stepped back thinking that it would be better if the water came up to his chest. What he didn’t know was that he stood on the edge of an underwater hole. As he stepped back, he fell into that hole and sank out of sight. His uncle roared with laughter as Butch came up for air. Butch thought that his uncle had intentionally tricked him, so he got out of the water and refused to continue the swimming lesson. He was terrified of water ever since that day.

Years later, as a father, Butch sent his children to Red Cross swimming classes so that similar experiences wouldn’t happen to them. One day his son asked him to go swimming with him and Butch explained that he didn’t know how to swim. Finally, after much harassment, Butch agreed to enroll in a swimming class himself. He did fine as long as the lessons were in the shallow end of the pool. But eventually, the day came for deep end exercises and Butch was terrified. When the instructor asked him to jump in the water, Butch said, “I’m afraid to jump in.” Realizing that his fear was real, the instructor jumped in the water then looked up at Butch and said, “Do you believe that I can help you and save you if need be?” Butch answered, “Yes, ma’am. I do.” Grinning the instructor replied, “Prove it. Jump in.” Butch did and now enjoys regular swimming occasions with his son and family.

What an example of true faith . . . belief that acts. Our profession of faith isn’t enough. The profession must be coupled with action that proves the profession is authentic. This is true even in everyday life. When confronting the deep end of life (i.e. career issues, work problems, family problems, children problems, marriage problems, spiritual issues, etc), we are challenged to prove our faith. The Holy Spirit whispers, “Do you believe that I am with you?” And weakly we say, “Yes. I do.” And he responds, “Prove it. Obey my instructions.”

Dear Father, thank you for coming to be with us. Forgive our doubts and fears. Grant to us an enduring, confident faith that keeps us from drowning in the sea of life. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN

Be strong and courageous today knowing that God is with us,