DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GOD IS IN OUR MIDST

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – GOD IS IN OUR MIDST

"Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all our heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; You shall see disaster no more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: 'Do not fear; Zion, let not our hands be weak. The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.' " (Zephaniah 3:14-17)

God gave a promise to Israel – daughter of Zion. A Messiah would come who would deliver them. He would come and dwell among them – A Savior/ Deliverer in their midst.

On Christmas Eve, we often read the Christmas story from the Gospels. " 'And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.' So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which is translated, God with us' " (Matthew 1:21-23). To Mary and Joseph, the Baby's name would be Jesus – Savior, and Emanuel – God with us.

The prophecies to Mary and Joseph are reflected in our focus Scripture for today – "The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, and the Mighty One will save." Our focus verse was a prophecy is to the nation of Israel and will be accomplished in the last days. But it is noteworthy that He has already come for the nations. He is Emmanuel – the God Who is with us; Jesus -- the One Who saves.

As we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus, let us remember that this is not just a historical event in the past, or some future blessing to the nation of Israel. God is not just some far-off being who is not involved in Planet Earth. He is here, and He saves us. This is God's present to us at the Christmas Nativity. "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

Love, Dad