Immanuel

The virgin will be with child and will give birth

to a son and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)



All names have meanings. My given name has a secular meaning and a Christian one. Taken straight from the Latin, it means “blind”. I once saw a display of parchments for sale. Each one had a person’s name and a Christian definition written out in calligraphy. The Christian definition of my name was something like ‘calm spirit’. I couldn’t purchase that page at that time. But it made me think.

In Isaiah we read of a sign from God. A child will be born to a virgin. That child will be called Immanuel, which means ‘God with us’. When the angel visited Joseph in a dream and told him that they were to ‘name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins’. They were to do this as a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.

We believe Jesus was the human representation of God. After He ascended to the Father’s right hand, our Lord sent the Holy Spirit to us, someone to help us in times of trial and tribulation.

We sometimes forget we have God with us. In past years at Christmas, I have gotten so ‘busy’ with ‘things’ I have forgotten the real reason we have Christmas to celebrate Jesus’ coming to earth to live with us. I heard of a church board that chose to have an appreciation dinner, for those who served, AFTER the Christmas activities because they realized the frantic pace of the world during the days that lead to Christmas were disrespectful of Christ. It gave me something to think about.