“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” ( Mathew 1:23)
A persistent thought has been the cause of both beauty and tragedy. Most people see something they like and add it to their wish list. However, I spot something I like, look at the price and think I can make that. Many do-it-yourself projects I have taken on turn out beautifully, saving money. But others … not so much.
While browsing social media, I came across an ad for memory verse bracelets. They are bracelets with the first letter of each word in a verse. You read the verse daily and use the bracelet to support the memory of each word. Brilliant. Though the product seemed well worth the price, that pesky thought emerged, I could make a bunch of bracelets for that price.
One evening, I settled down with my new bracelet kit, worship music and a cup of tea. The process started out well. Humming along with the music, I picked out the tiny clay and letter beads, carefully placing them on the desk in the order of words in the verse. I weaved the stretchy elastic band through a tiny gold jump ring and threaded on the beads one by one. The last step was to add a spring ring at the end to latch the bracelet together. It had to be tied off at the right measure point as it determined how the bracelet would fit on my wrist. This gave little room to create a knot.
The bracelet-making process had been longer and more tedious than expected, but tying off this bracelet would be the death of me. I attempted the knot 4 times before finally getting out some round nose pliers to help. Riding on the edge of frustration, I finally accomplished a double knot. As with all jewelry, I tested the durability with a pull. I thought if this doesn’t stay together, I’m done.
I gave the bracelet a gentle pull and POP! The beads quickly dispersed covering my desk, lap and the floor surrounding my chair. Without a beat, the music changed and I heard the first line in the song “Even If” by Mercy Me…
“ They say sometimes you win some, sometimes you lose some”.
I knew that was God teasing me. I busted out laughing, looked up and said, “ Oh, you think you’re so funny?” All of my frustration left when the delight of my Father’s presence encompassed me.
Many of us know that the Greek rendering of Immanuel is “God with us”. But do we experience the intimacy of this reality? I am convinced, that “God with us” is not just a phrase used to describe God in the flesh, but to describe the nature of the relationship He desired to have with us well after His bodily death.
“And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.” (Mathew 27:51)
The curtain or veil holds so much symbolic importance throughout the Bible. The first time we see imagery of the veil is when Moses covered his face after encountering the glory of God in Exodus. The second is the veil of the jewish tabernacle that separated the glory of God from the people. The third is mentioned in 2 Corinthians 3:12-14 where the veil is associated with a hardened mind of which only Jesus Christ can take away. This means, that we can still be veiled from God today.
The veil is simply separation from God. Being fallen people, we cannot stand before a Holy God and survive. We would die instantly because His glory would be too much for us to behold in our fallen state. I imagine God was saddened by this separation, longing to be intimately connected to His children. Only a love this pure could drive Him to sacrifice His only son.
The tearing of the veil is the pinnacle of the gospel story. We are forever freed, not only from sin and death but from a loss of intimacy with the God of the universe. We have the privilege of every moment of every day to repent of sin, removing the separation sin causes. Our fellowship with God is completely unhindered by the blood of Christ. This makes us more able to walk continually with our father. How amazing is that?
Who am I that God would come to be with me, making playful banter while I make bracelets? I still have a lot to learn about what it means to walk with God. But if this is an indication of what it looks like, I want it.
Sometimes I struggle to feel His presence with me. But something I am learning is that faith is not based on our feelings. Sometimes we have to trust in what we know. We can know with full assurance that God is omnipresent, He sees everything, He listens, protects, guides and answers when we call.
Our God loves us so much. He wants to be the one we come to for all our concerns, desires, questions or no reason at all. Other than we love Him.
God wants to create memories with us just like we do with our friends or family members. I will cherish this memory of God’s gentle teasing forever as a reminder that God is with me. Let’s take advantage of this miraculous gift and invite Him into every moment of our day, enjoying the beauty of His presence.
Remember to prioritize firsthand Bible reading every day, only the Word has the power to transform. "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV
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