Fulfillment

"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.'" (Matthew 1:22-23 NKJ)

Once again the Christmas season has come. During this most wonderful time of the year, we celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior. God loved his creation so much that he sent his only son away from his home to come to ours and invite us to come to his. It's a heart-warming story: an innocent baby born to a young couple in a dark and lonely stable many miles from home.

However, there was a meaning behind the birth. One day, this baby's hands would do a carpenter's work, would heal thousands of people, and would be nailed to a cruel cross. This baby's head would one day be a man's head with a crown of thorns pressed into his brow.

That warm and tender new born would grow up and would be pierced by a sword. The soft, cooing voice would one day cry out, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" Why did Jesus leave his heavenly home to come to our earthly home?

It all occurred "that what the prophet had spoken might be fulfilled."It occurred because God wanted to be with us and wanted us to be with him. Immanuel, the child of a virgin - the son of God - came to be with us.

Dear Father, thank you for sending your son to us. May we remember why he came and fulfill his grace in our lives. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN

May your life be fulfilled in Christ today,