There is a fascinating phrase to describe the presence of God in the Garden of Eden just after Adam and Eve’s fall: And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden (Gen. 3:8). 

I’m not sure what that sound was like or what their relationship was like with God, but I think we can agree that a certain level of connection between Creator and creation was broken in the fall.

And at Christmastime, we sing and proclaim the name of God as Emmanuel, “God with us.”   God is and always has been Emmanuel; it did not start with Christ’s birth, but I think Jesus as a baby created a new way for God to be with us.  Our Savior is not a far off power; he loved, lost, listened, obeyed, and was betrayed.  Our experience is not foreign to Him. 

Jesus said in John 15:26 that we will always have God, Emmanuel with us. I like the amplified version for a more clear understanding:  “But when the  Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father, He will testify and bear witness about Me.

There was a change when Christ came; he grew up, talked, taught, loved, and ministered in a tangible way to many people.  He does the same today, through our interaction and relationship with the Holy Spirit.  Because of Christ at Christmas and his life, death, and resurrection– we who put faith in Christ and believe upon his name have our Emmanuel every day, all night, and forever. 

Week 4: Let the King of Glory Come In

I was praying about what to share today and “lift up your head, and let the King of Glory come in” immediately came to mind. I love that verse, but I wasn’t sure what Psalm 24 has to do with Christmas. Let’s see what connections can be made:


1The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
2for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.
3Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.
5They will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from God their Savior.
6Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob.
7Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle.
9Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty—
he is the King of glory.

Ahh, I see now. This Christ-child is who Christ has always been and who He will always be. He founded the sea, the earth is His, and all who live in it. The shepherds went to worship him, the angels declared His glory in the skies, the star shone, the baby leapt in Elizabeth’s womb, and the wise men sought Him out. The Virgin Mary gave birth to him and Joseph helped raise him. He is God Incarnate, Emmanuel.

The psalm is about building the temple. A permanent, physical structure acknowledging who the Lord is instead of the portable tabernacle. That’s what we must also do – make a permanent life-altering decision to let the Glory of the Lord rule and reign in our lives: to renew our minds, engulf our soul, and inhabit our spirit. Lift up your head… that the King of Glory may come in. This is our Lord Jesus, the Baby, the Lord of Lords, the Messiah-Savior—This is the essence of Christmas.