God of the mountain and God of the manger..

Warning: These bible verses are not just for Christmas!

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matt 1:23

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign:the Virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel “. Isaiah 7:14

As I was preparing my Christmas talk a few years ago, the Lord spoke to my heart about rediscovering the AWE and WONDER of these bible verses.

GOD WITH US.

The nativity story may be so familiar to us that we can easily skip past these bible verses, perhaps even only read them once a year, without truly meditating on them.

Contemplating the miracle that has taken place.

A Virgin has become pregnant, by the power of the Holy Spirit and given birth to God’s own son.

There are angelic visitations- hosts of angels appearing from heaven.

A celestial event -a bright new star has been seen in the sky which draws learned men from a far land.

This is no ordinary event.

It is momentous.

A Holy God, who we were separated from by sin, who could not be touched by human hands or His face looked upon, has Himself come to us and lived with us.

In Exodus 19 we read about the God of the Mountain which helps us to gain an understanding of how much of an incredible privilege we now enjoy through faith in Jesus to be in relationship with God.

When God tells Moses He will come down and appear on Mount Sinai there is a warning to the people…don’t approach the mountain or touch it or you will die.

Everyone must be kept at a distance and they can only approach the mountain when they hear the trumpet. The people have to be cleansed and prepared over 3 days ready for God to appear.

When God comes down on the mountain there is smoke, thunder, lightning, fire, the mountain shakes and the people are terrified. The people are too scared to go up the Mountain for themselves and they choose to remain at at distance.

That is the reality of the effect of sin and our separation from a Holy God. That’s why we needed Jesus. It meant certain death to approach that Mountain. There is separation from God, there is distance. God can’t be seen as He is covered by a dark cloud.

Jesus laid aside his heavenly glory to take on human flesh. Jesus came in the Father’s love to save us from our sins and restore us into relationship with God. Jesus, God’s only son came and lived with us. Fully God yet man.

God of the Manger.

“And 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

Jesus came to show us God’s goodness, compassion, mercy, love and justice.

Jesus could be touched.

He allowed himself to be touched and He touched people. He touched lepers who were unclean and sinners. He reached out and touched the untouchables.

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. I am willing he said “ Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy, Matthew 8:3

Jesus showed us the Father God who loves us with such incredible love.

So this week I have been thinking.

When was I last truly filled with Awe and Wonder as I read the Bible, see and experience God’s beautiful creation, consider the miracle of My Salvation, consider the miracle that God now dwells in Me by the power of His Holy Spirit! God in Me.

God of the Mountain now God of the Manger.

God living in Me and you.

Dear reader, I pray that God will show you the true AWE and WONDER of His Story this Christmas.