Genie in a Bottle or God With Us
No need to carry around a bottle with your personal genie inside.
You could drop it and break it.
Someone could steal it.
Besides you only get 3 wishes…you will need help after they are gone.
Want to know the biggest problem?
There is no such thing as a genie in a bottle.
There is an infinitely better way.
It’s the original and best way.
It’s “God with us!”
Jesus is Immanuel.
Immanuel means “God with us!” These words were spoken by the prophet Isaiah. Who wrote these words (inspired by God) 700 years before Jesus was a baby laying in a manger in Bethlehem. Matthew connected the dots of history.
Jesus is God’s answer for the world’s cry for help.
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”
Matthew 1:22-25
Think of it!
God with us!
God…not some temperamental genie. All powerful God!
With…no need to rub a bottle, say the magic words.
You can’t find a genie…BUT…God is always present.
When Joshua took the leadership of Israel after Moses died don’t you think he realized how difficult his new job was? And-What did God say to Joshua in his time of desperate need?
“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Joshua 1:5
See the pronoun you at the end of Joshua 1:5…you?
Jesus is proof that God was not only with Joshua. Immanuel means God with us! Everyone who calls on the name of Jesus will be saved. No bottle rubbing… say Jesus. And we never run out of the number of times we can say Jesus.
Immanuel…God with us.
This is the best news we’ve ever heard.
Just one more truth.
It’s very important that the world know the Jesus was not Joseph’s son. Verses 24-25 tell us Joseph obeyed God. He had “no union with her until she gave birth to a son.”
Got it?
Jesus.
Immanuel.
God with us.
Infinitely better than a fairytale genie.