1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Whenever a baby is born, relatives begin to make comparisons such as, “He has his mothers’ eyes,” and soon the physical and personality traits of both sides of the family make up this new arrival.

And so it was with Jesus. Born of Mary, He was very human, and with God as His heavenly Father, He was divine. He is “God with us.”

Because Jesus knew hunger and thirst, God is with us when we need the basic necessities of life. Because Jesus knew pain, God is with us when we hurt. Because Jesus knew rejection, God is with us when friends turn against us. Because Jesus knew grief, God is with us when we must say good-bye to someone dear.

What a remarkable and awesome combination: Because Jesus is human, He understands us. Because He is divine, He is able to help us. Surely He is “Immanuel….God with us.”

Prayer: Our heavenly Parent, we are thankful for your Son, who has been tempted like we have, who has known pain, who has known grief and who has walked this earth. And because He came, we can look forward to walking with You for eternity. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

- Greg Wilson