December 1, 2020 7:00 pm
“No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.” Those words from Phillips Brooks’ much-loved hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” point to the very heart of Christmas. Jesus came into our broken world to rescue us from our sin and give all who would put their faith in Him a new and vital relationship with God.
In a letter to a friend decades after he wrote the hymn, Brooks poignantly described the outcome of this relationship in his own life: “I cannot tell you how personal this grows to me. He is here. He knows me and I know Him. It is no figure of speech. It is the realest thing in the world, and every day makes it realer. And one wonders with delight what it will grow to as the years go on.”
Brooks’ calm assurance of God’s presence in his life reflects one of the names of Jesus prophesied by Isaiah: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). The gospel of Matthew gives us the meaning of the Hebrew name Immanuel: “God with us” (1:23).
God drew near to us through Jesus so we could know Him personally and be with Him forever. His loving presence with us is the greatest gift of all.
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Hi there, welcome to Our Daily Bread's daily devotional. The reading for today was written by James Banks, and it's entitled, Christmas Presents. No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in. Those words from Phillips Brook's much-loved hymn, O Little Town of Bethlehem, point to the very heart of Christmas.
Jesus came into our broken world to rescue us from our sin and give all who would put their faith in him a new and vital relationship with God. In a letter to a friend decades after he wrote the hymn, Brooks poignantly described the outcome of this relationship in his own life. I cannot tell you how personal this grows to me. He is here.
He knows me, and I know him. It is no figure of speech. It is the realest thing in the world, and every day makes it realer. And one wonders with delight what it will grow to as the years go on. Brook's calm assurance of God's presence in his life reflects one of the names of Jesus prophesied by Isaiah. The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel. The Gospel of Matthew gives us the meaning of the Hebrew name Immanuel, God with us. God drew near to us through Jesus so that we would know him personally and be with him forever.
His loving presence with us is the greatest gift of all. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is taken from the prophet Isaiah chapter 7 verses 10 through 14. Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz.
Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights. But Ahaz said, I will not ask. I will not put the Lord to the test.
Then Isaiah said, Hear now, you house of David. Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel. Now let's pray. Loving Father, thank you for giving all of yourself to us through your life on earth, death on the cross, and resurrection. Please help us to live for you today and forever. And may this weary and hurting world come to know you through us and find the rest and peace that only can be known in and through you. And it's in Jesus' name that we pray amen.
Whisper: medium.en / 2024-01-20 11:03:56 / 2024-01-20 11:05:23 / 1
