Our Daily Bread

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Dexu Xia

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Dec 27, 2017, 11:01:34 PM12/27/17

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God with Us

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel. Matthew 1:23

“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ at my right, Christ at my left . . .” These hymn lyrics, written by the fifth-century Celtic Christian St. Patrick, echo in my mind when I read Matthew’s account of Jesus’s birth. They feel like a warm embrace, reminding me that I’m never alone.

Matthew’s account tells us that God dwelling with His people is at the heart of Christmas. Quoting Isaiah’s prophecy of a child who would be called Immanuel, meaning “God with us” (Isa. 7:14), Matthew points to the ultimate fulfillment of that prophecy—Jesus, the One born by the power of the Holy Spirit to be God with us. This truth is so central that Matthew begins and ends his gospel with it, concluding with Jesus’s words to His disciples: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).

God’s love became Incarnate at Bethlehem.

St. Patrick’s lyrics remind me that Christ is with believers always through His Spirit living within. When I’m nervous or afraid, I can hold fast to His promises that He will never leave me. When I can’t fall asleep, I can ask Him to give me His peace. When I’m celebrating and filled with joy, I can thank Him for His gracious work in my life.

Jesus, Immanuel—God with us.

Father God, thank You for sending Your Son to be God with us. May we experience Your presence this day.

God’s love became Incarnate at Bethlehem.

上帝同在

必有童女怀孕生子，人要称祂的名为以马内利。-马太福音1章23节

在公元五世纪，爱尔兰主教圣派翠克写道：“基督与我同在，基督在我前面，基督在我后面，基督在我里面，基督在我下方，基督在我上方，基督在我右边，基督在我左边……。”当我读到马太福音耶稣降生的描述时，这些句子不断在我心中回荡，就像温暖的拥抱，让我知道自己永不孤单。

马太的叙述说明了圣诞节的核心意义，乃是上帝与祂的子民同在。正如马太引述以赛亚的预言说，有一婴孩将被称为以马内利，意思就是“上帝与我们同在”（以赛亚书7章14节），并指出耶稣实现了这预言。耶稣就是藉著圣灵的大能而生，并与人同在的上帝。这真理至关重要，马太的福音书由它起始，也以它作为结尾。马太用耶稣对门徒说的话总结说：“我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了。”（马太福音28章20节）

圣派翠克的颂词提醒了我，基督会透过圣灵永远与信徒同在。当我感到慌乱或惧怕时，可以紧抓住基督的应许，确信祂永不离开我。当我辗转难眠时，可以求祂赐下平安。当我满有喜乐时，可以感谢祂在我生命中的恩典作为。

耶稣的名为以马内利，就是“上帝与我们同在”。

天父上帝，感谢祢，差遣祢的爱子与我们同在。
愿我们今日能经历祢的同在。