Jesus, God With Us - By Mikella Van Dyke

There are two people in my life who are always available to me, and who have communicated that availability wholeheartedly: my mom and dad. I promised myself I would communicate this same availability to my own children in a way that whispers, “I am always here.” Yet, many times I have let myself become distant by communicating distraction, frustration, distance, and misguided priorities.

Your availability is limited, so understanding when and to whom you make yourself available has the ability to communicate what matters. One of the biggest questions I’ve asked myself recently is, “Am I available to what/who matters?” I can fill my life with so many distractions that when the truth of availability speaks it shows that my work, my busyness, and my dreams are at the forefront and my relationships can take the backseat. At Christmas, it is easy to get bogged down with cookie decorating, dates on the calendar, parties, and décor. Yet, I stand here wondering if we are standing available to Immanuel, God with us. All creation groaned for a Savior, yet we busy ourselves with the distractions of the season. “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

All creation groaned for a Savior, yet we busy ourselves with the distractions of the season.

The candlelight service on Christmas Eve has always been my favorite. City lights blinking, the dark night sky set against the rising voices and the bright candles as we swayed back and forth, “Emmanuel, Emmanuel, who ransomed captive Israel.” Singing loudly, our voices raised in unison, it felt like we were ushering in the King. Immanuel or “God with us.”

My 4-year-old sleeps almost every night in our room. The rule is that he must start out the night sleeping in his bed, but at some point during the night he inevitably makes his way down the long dark hallway to our room. He has for the last year found his way onto the floor and slept there. As a child, I found it comforting that when I was scared I knew I could find my way across the hall to my parent’s bedroom and sleep close to their comforting presence. Imagine if Jesus never came and paid the price for our sins and we remained separated by a dark hallway from God, unable to be in His presence. There would be no way to get to Him, to be in His presence, because sin separated us from having a relationship. As a parent, I know how much my kids desire “Mom with us” wherever they go. A common question is, “Mom, will you or Dad be with us?” As a parent, I know how much my kids desire “Mom with us” wherever they go.

At Christmas, we celebrate the beautiful reality that God sent Jesus, His only Son, to dwell among us. We could not come to Him, so He came to us. The Old Testament prophecy in Isaiah was fulfilled in the virgin birth. Jesus, God in the flesh, came to dwell among men. God sent His Son to earth as “God with us” to redeem His people, usher in a new kingdom, and as a fulfillment of the prophecy in the Old Testament. He has made Himself available to us, have we in turn made ourselves available to Him?