Matthew 1:23

New International Version (NIV)

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means, God with us).

For Meditation

The story is told of a little boy in Europe who was missing his father who was fighting in the Second World War. One day, the boy stood in front of a large framed photograph of his father on the wall in their living room and gazed at it with keen admiration. When his mother came by, the little boy called out to her, “Mother!”

“Yes, dear”

“Do you know what I really wish I could have now?”

No, son. What is it, dear; if only I can afford it?” the boy’s mother said.

“I wish dad would pop out of this picture right now so that I could hug him.”

The mother, with arms around her teary son said, “Don’t worry, son. You father will come home very soon; and I am sure he is also missing you.”

What a wish from a young child!

1. Do you see how this touching story illustrates the Christmas story?
2. Can you imagine yourself starring in the skies and saying, “I wish God would come down now so I can hug Him?”
3. Well, do you know that you don’t have to wish so anymore? That actually is the Christmas story!
4. Are you not glad that Christmas is the celebration of the day God came down from heaven in human form and became real to us (Matt. 1:23)?
5. Have you hugged Him yet? Have you received and believed in Jesus and received the right to become a child of God – a child “born not of natural descent, nor of human decision, or a husband’s will, but born of God” (Jn. 1:12-13)? That is the real Christmas gift for you.

I pray you will parcel your heart as your gift to Jesus on His birthday, and receive God’s Christmas gift for you, which lasts for eternity.

So: may you stop wondering how God would pop out of the heaven and become real to you by some other way apart from Jesus; and may you welcome Him into your heart with gladness and joy this Christmas season.

The baby Jesus we celebrate at Christmas, is God incarnate.

Shalom