God with Us

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”).—Matthew 1:23

We usually hear this verse quoted during the Christmas season, but the opening chapter of Matthew reveals a key theme that is valuable for us at all times throughout the year. The Gospel of Matthew begins by introducing us to the “with-us” Jesus (1:23) and concludes with the same emphasis when Jesus told the disciples: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (28:20). See how the theme of God’s presence is revealed in every chapter of this Gospel and how this precious truth can motivate us to live as modern-day disciples of Jesus. It is my prayer that through this study we will:

• Praise God that His presence is always with us, even in tough times
• Be encouraged by the different ways God’s presence manifests itself
• Be motivated to live out His presence in our everyday lives

Your devotional author,
James F. Coakley