IN TOUCH Devotional 18th December 2023 —O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
You are welcome to Today’s In Touch Daily Devotional written by Dr Charles Stanley and published by In Touch Ministry. Charles F. Stanley is the founder of In Touch Ministries and a New York Times best-selling author. He demonstrates a keen awareness of people’s needs and provides Christ-centered biblically-based principles for everyday life.
Today’s Topic: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
May we never lose our sense of awe at the fact that God chooses to be with us.
Scripture: Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Matthew 1: 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
In Touch Daily Devotional – Dr. Charles Stanley 18th December 2023
At Christmastime, we sing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” a hymn that includes ancient chants known as the “O Antiphons.”* In 6th-century worship, each “O” was followed by a messianic title: Emmanuel, Root of Jesse, Dayspring, Key of David, Lord of Might, Desire of Nations. These names for the Savior remind us that in Jesus, God fulfilled the hopes of His people. And we can observe His faithfulness both historically and in the present, with hope for the future.
The hymn hinges on the name Emmanuel (or Immanuel), meaning “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). As John says, “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Jesus is not merely a good teacher or prophet—He is God Incarnate, the wisdom of God in human form. That truth is the foundation of our hope.
As we try to embody Jesus’ teachings, our prayer should be to walk as His wise followers in the world (Ephesians 5:15). That means living faithfully in a kingdom that is both here now and still to come. We also pray that our Emmanuel will draw many people—“from every tribe, language, … and nation” (Revelation 5:9)—to Himself, until the whole earth is filled with the knowledge of God’s glory (Habakkuk 2:14; Psalm 72:19).
*An antiphon is a phrase or verse from Scripture, often from the Psalms, historically sung during worship.
Bible in One Year: Hebrews 4-6
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