Isaiah 7 14 Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us].
It was in the midst of normal life for the Israelites when they were being attacked by other nation when, the Lord gave king of Judah Ahaz a great announcement and a promise. The Prophet Isaiah told King Ahaz that the two nations who plotted to destroy and divide them would not fight against them. Then He gave him a sign, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son. It must have been very hard for king Ahaz to believe this promise (1) the period this would happen (65 years) was long enough for them to be destroyed by their enemies, (2) nothing like that ever heard or happened in the history. But God had spoken.
It came to pass that the virgin conceived through the Holy Spirit, the child was born and called Immanuel. Immanuel means God is with us. This miracle promised was fulfilled, not only for king Ahaz and the Israelites but the entire humanity. Today we are saved by the blood of the Jesus Christ. This is the greatest gift ever received. God dwells within us through the Holy Spirit. We have a gift of eternal life, even if our human body is destroyed but we will not perish.
Christmas is the time to remember the greatest gift ever received the gift of love. God demonstrated to us gift giving, are we not supposed to learn from that? May we take time and plan to give the gift of love to those around us this time.
God bless you
Ma Nonto Machi