Jan 05 2008
Immanuel
The King walked over and reached for the book. He turned it toward Lucifer and commanded, “Come, Deceiver, read the name of the One who will call your bluff. Read the name of the One who will storm your gates.”
Satan rose slowly off his haunches. Like a wary wolf, he walked a wide circle toward the desk until he stood before the volume and read the word:
“Immanuel?” he muttered to himself, then spoke in a tone of disbelief. “God with us?” For the first time the hooded head turned squarely toward the face of the Father. “No. Not even You would do that. Not even You would go so far.”
“You’ve never believed me, Satan.”
“But Immanuel? The plan is bizarre! You don’t know what it’s like on Earth! You don’t know how dark I’ve made it. It’s putrid. It’s evil. It’s…”
“IT IS MINE,” proclaimed the King. “AND I WILL RECLAIM WHAT IS MINE. I WILL BECOME FLESH. I WILL FEEL WHAT MY CREATURES FEEL. I WILL SEE WHAT THEY SEE.”
“But what of their sin?”
“I will bring mercy.”
“What of their death?”
“I will give life.”
Satan stood speechless.
God spoke, “I love my children. Love does not take away the beloved’s freedom. But love takes away fear. And Immanuel will leave behind a tribe of fearless children. They will not fear you or your hell.”
Satan stepped back at the thought. His retort was childish. “Th-th-they will too!”
“I will take away all sin. I will take away death. Without sin and without death, you have no power.”
Around and around in a circle Satan paced, clenching and unclenching his wiry fingers. When he finally stopped, he asked a question that even I was thinking. “Why? Why would You do this?”
The Father’s voice was deep and soft. “Because I love them.”
by Max Lucado
This is a very good devotional, especially because this is one of the topics that I’ve had to write about for my seminar class this week. God did do what he out of love and to bring life. He took away everything and had those in mind that had yet to know of him he thought of us. He knew that we would one day recognized and appreciate this act of love =)! God’s the bomb!
I love this one.
This is so incredibly AwEsOmE! It gave me goosebumps!
I gained a deeper understanding from this, thankyou.
This is deeply moving. I like your devotionals very much!!
Supreme and unconditional love even though we don’t deserve it. What a wonderful God we serve! Happy Sabbath & Thank You!
As I read “I will take away all sin. I will take away death. Without sin and without death, you have no power” I thought to myself - enter Jesus Christ!
Can I offer you a mantra,”Because of Jesus Christ”?
Because of Jesus Christ - on the cross Jesus delivered all of humanity, you and me, from Satan and his forces.
Because of Jesus Christ - we never have to fear being possessed by a demon—for our bodies are the temple of God.
Because of Jesus Christ - we can resist the devil and his temptations—for in baptism we have been united to Jesus Christ.
Because of Jesus Christ - the devil cannot scare us with death or damnation—for all our sins are forgiven and we will be raised from the dead.
Because of Jesus Christ - the devil cannot deceive us with his lies because we know the truth.
Paul says it all when he writes in Colossians: “for he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:13)
You and I have been rescued from Satan and his kingdom—he has no power over us.