Message Minute (God Runs Toward Us)

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). - Matthew 1:23

"Immanuel" means "God with us." This isn't just a nice Christmas phrase, it's a theological earthquake. At the beginning of the story, humanity ran away from God's presence. But at Christmas, God runs toward humanity's presence. He didn't stay distant and send instructions. He came Himself. As a baby. In a feeding trough. Born to a teenage girl in a backwater town.

What does that tell us? God is comfortable with mess. He's comfortable with vulnerability and humanity in all its fragile, broken complexity. The incarnation is God's way of saying, "I'm not afraid of your humanity. I'm not disgusted by your weakness. I'm not intimidated by your struggles."

Christmas reveals that God refuses to let us hide. If we won't come to Him, He comes to us. Emmanuel means God is WITH us, not far from us, not disappointed in us, not waiting for us to get our act together. He's with us in the mess, in the struggle, in whatever we're hiding.

Reflection: How does knowing God pursued closeness with you change how you approach Him today?

Pray: Jesus, thank You for coming close. Thank You for entering our messy world and refusing to keep Your distance. Help me to stop running and start receiving Your presence. Amen.