Emmanuel: Jesus Came to Give Mercy and Access

Devotional

Day 1: Emmanuel: God With Us, Not From A Distance

Christmas is more than a story; it’s the game‑changing truth that God became a man to be with us—Emmanuel. He isn’t a distant observer; He showed up, took on flesh, and stepped into our everyday. In the joy and in the ache, He is present—not just around you but with you. Because He came, peace that passes understanding and joy that holds fast can be yours right now. Today, pause and welcome the One who came near, and let His nearness steady your heart. [47:30]

Matthew 1:21–23: Mary will have a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because His mission is to rescue His people from their sins; all this fulfills what God promised—that a virgin would give birth to a son who would be called Emmanuel, meaning God has come to be with us.

Reflection: Where do you most feel like God is “at a distance,” and what is one simple way you will acknowledge His with‑ness there today (for example, a whispered prayer during your commute or at your desk)?

Day 2: He Will Save—Grace Over Performance and Shame

Many of us were taught, “God helps those who help themselves,” but when it comes to salvation, that’s not the gospel. You cannot fix what sin broke, and you don’t have to perform your way into God’s approval. Jesus came on purpose, and He will save His people from their sins—grace over grind, mercy over merit. Shame says, “I don’t deserve it,” but the cross says, “Paid in full,” and the Savior says, “Come.” Lay down the striving, walk right up to Him, and receive what He is so ready to give. [45:50]

Hebrews 4:14–16: Since we have Jesus—the great high priest who has gone before us to God and understands our weaknesses because He was tested in every way yet without sin—let us come close with confidence; at His throne we receive mercy and find grace exactly when we need help.

Reflection: In what one area are you still trying to earn God’s approval, and what practical step will you take this week to receive mercy there (confession, resting instead of overworking, or praying these verses aloud)?

Day 3: Adopted Into the Father’s Family Forever

God’s heart from the beginning was family, not distance. At just the right time, He sent His Son—born under the law—to buy our freedom and bring us home. Adoption means you are wanted, named, and given full access, not an outsider trying to get in. Live today as a son or daughter, not as an orphan working for scraps. Let the Spirit remind you that you belong, and rest in the Father’s embrace. [38:01]

Galatians 4:4–7: When the time was fully set, God sent His Son, born of a woman and under the law, to redeem those under the law so we could be adopted as His own; then God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts so we cry, “Abba, Father,” and we are no longer slaves but children and heirs.

Reflection: What is one daily habit you can adopt to live from your identity as God’s child—such as starting each morning by saying, “Father, I belong to You,” or reaching out to reconcile with a brother or sister?

Day 4: Don’t Let Christmas Slip Through Your Fingers

With all the lights, lyrics, and traditions, it’s possible to be inches from the manger and still miss the gift. Jesus stands before you with a present tagged with your name: mercy instead of judgment, grace instead of earning, forgiveness, a clean heart, and a brand‑new start. He is eager to give; your part is simple—come near and take it. Don’t let guilt or unworthiness talk you out of what He already purchased. Today, say yes, open your hands, and accept the help only He can give. [56:24]

Romans 5:8: God proves His love for us in this—while we were still caught in sin, the Messiah laid down His life for us.

Reflection: What specific regret keeps you hesitating to open the gift, and how will you hand that regret to Jesus in prayer today so you can receive His mercy?

Day 5: Draw Near and Worship the Beautiful Name

Emmanuel gives you ready access—so walk right up to Him and worship. Extravagant worship means holding nothing back: mind, heart, voice, and body offered to the One who is worthy. As you draw near, He draws near, and His peace and joy grow strong within you. Let your praise today be your wholehearted yes to His presence and purpose. [52:30]

James 4:8: Come close to God and He will come close to you; turn from double‑minded living, set your heart wholly on Him, and make room for His nearness.

Reflection: When you worship this week, what concrete choice will help you hold nothing back—turning off your phone, kneeling, raising your hands, or speaking your gratitude out loud?

Sermon Summary

Beautiful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace—Christmas is not just a story we remember; it’s the game-changing truth that God became a man to be with us. Emmanuel means God with us—not God at a distance, not God watching from afar, but God present, personal, and near. At the right time, the Father sent the Son to buy our freedom and to adopt us as His own. That’s why Jesus came—not merely to purchase something, but to provide someone: His very presence with us and our place in His family.

We can’t fix what sin broke. This isn’t about doing enough good, avoiding enough bad, or climbing some religious ladder. Salvation is not performance-based. The angel named it clearly: “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” He will. Not “we will,” not “try harder,” not “prove yourself.” He will. God’s love is not a reward for good behavior, nor is it withheld because of bad behavior. Even while we were sinners, Christ demonstrated His love for us.

Hebrews tells us Jesus is our great High Priest who gives us ready access to God. So don’t let Christmas slip through your fingers—so close to the manger, yet missing the gift. Walk right up to Him. He’s not holding you at arm’s length. He is ready to give. But there’s a responsibility on our end: come near and take the mercy; accept the help. Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve; grace is God giving us what we could never earn. Jesus was born to die so that we could be born again to live—He didn’t die as a martyr, but as a sacrifice, satisfying justice and opening the door of adoption.

So receive the gift with your name on it: forgiveness, a clean heart, a brand new start, and the presence of God with you. Draw near. Take the mercy. Accept the help. And let that reality turn us into extravagant worshipers who hold nothing back from the One who held nothing back from us.

Key Takeaways

1. Adoption, not performance, defines belonging. Adoption means God establishes our identity before we ever demonstrate our worthiness. We don’t behave our way into the family; we receive our place and learn to live from it. Holiness grows from belonging, not the other way around. In Christ, the Father’s “welcome home” precedes our “I’ll do better.” [38:01]
2. Emmanuel dismantles the distant-God myth. God is not watching from a distance; He came near in Jesus. Nearness means companionship in weakness, guidance in confusion, and courage in fear. It also means He saves, not merely advises. Emmanuel tells our shame and isolation, “You are not alone.” [46:25]
3. Ready access: walk right up to Him. Jesus, our great High Priest, opened the way to the Father. Access isn’t earned; it’s received by faith, even when we feel unworthy. Shame says, “Hang back,” but grace says, “Come closer.” The door is open; step through it. [52:30]
4. Receive the gift: mercy and help. He is eager to give what we cannot produce—mercy for our guilt and help for our helplessness. Repentance isn’t self-improvement; it’s trusting His payment and opening our hands. The gift has your name on it, but it must be taken. Accept the help. [56:24]
5. Born to die so we can live. Christmas points to the cross where justice and mercy meet. Jesus didn’t die to inspire us; He died to save us, to make us new. New birth is not a metaphor—it’s a reality that reshapes our present and secures our future. [57:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[30:19] - God became a man
[31:07] - Prayer for open hearts
[33:59] - Naughty vs. nice tension
[37:32] - Freedom bought, adoption offered
[39:42] - Scripture over self-help
[41:20] - Salvation not performance-based
[45:03] - Reading Matthew 1
[46:25] - Emmanuel: God with us
[49:48] - Ready access to God
[52:30] - Walk right up to Him
[53:53] - The gift with your name
[55:12] - Take mercy, accept help
[57:21] - Born to die, born again
[62:03] - Extravagant worship response

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
- Galatians 4:4-7
- Matthew 1:18-23
- Hebrews 4:14-16

Observation questions

In Matthew 1:21, what specific action is promised about Jesus’ mission, and who is doing the saving? “He will” (not “we will”) is emphasized ([45:38]).
According to Galatians 4:4-5, list the two purposes named for why the Father sent the Son “at the right time.” How do “buy freedom for us” and “adopt us” fit together ([37:32]; [38:01])?
From Hebrews 4:14-16, what posture are believers invited to take, and what are we invited to receive? Consider the language “walk right up to him” ([52:30]).
In Matthew 1:23, what does the name “Emmanuel” mean, and how does this confront the idea that God is observing from far away? “God is with us” ([46:25]).

Interpretation questions

“He will save his people from their sins” shifts salvation from self-effort to God’s action ([45:50]). What does that reveal about the nature of grace, and how should that correct both pride (I can earn it) and despair (I’ve ruined it)?
If the Father sent the Son to “adopt us as his very own children,” what identity is granted before any performance is offered ([38:01])? How might that reorder motives for holiness—from trying to belong, to living because one already belongs?
If the invitation is to “walk right up to him,” what inner barriers (shame, fear, unworthiness) keep people hanging back ([52:30])? How does grace speak to those barriers differently than religion?
If Emmanuel means “God is with us” right now, what difference does that make in weakness, confusion, or fear ([46:25])? How does presence change how a person prays, decides, and endures?

Application questions

Where have you been trying to “fix what sin broke” with self-help or religious striving? What would it look like this week to replace “try harder” with a concrete act of surrender—confession, asking for prayer, or obeying a clear next step ([40:05])?
Shame and guilt often keep people at a distance. What is one practical step you will take in the next 48 hours to “walk right up to Him”—set aside 10 minutes for honest prayer, take Communion with attention, or ask someone to pray with you ([52:30])?
Adoption defines belonging. Where do you still live like a servant trying to earn a spot rather than a son/daughter who already belongs? Choose one daily practice this week to rehearse your identity (e.g., begin prayer with “Father, thank You that I am Yours”) ([38:01]).
Emmanuel—God with us. In one current place of fear or confusion, how will you practice His nearness? Name a simple plan: a breath prayer when anxiety spikes, pausing to listen before deciding, or opening Scripture before opening your inbox ([46:25]).
What specific mercy do you need to take today (forgiveness for a failure, cleansing of shame)? What help will you ask for that you cannot produce (strength to reconcile, courage to confess, wisdom to act)? “Accept the help” ([56:24]).
“Born to die so that we could be born again to live.” As you look at the week ahead, what is one old pattern you will put to death, and what is one new practice of life in Christ you will begin (e.g., replace late-night doom-scrolling with 10 minutes in the Gospels) ([57:21])?
Extravagant worship holds nothing back. What would wholehearted worship look like for you this week at home and when gathered—your posture, your singing, your generosity, your obedience? Name one concrete response you will bring to Jesus ([01:02:03]).

Sermon Clips

This is so important. This is really important. This is why Jesus Christ came. We love Christmas. We love all the fa-la-la-la-la and the ho-ho-ho. Amen? I love Christmas. I love all the Christmas songs. I love everything about it. Two days ago, I was walking through Bob's Discount Furniture, texting Kendall, by the way, and walking through and all of a sudden, Oh Holy Night was playing. And what was I to do? And so all of a sudden, I just started singing Oh Holy Night. And I was singing with it and all the people were looking at me and I said to him, this is the reason. This is why Jesus Christ came. [00:38:32] (41 seconds) #WorshipOutLoud

And what we learn in the word of God is that God isn't a distant God. He's a very personal God. And when you read verse 21, he will, he will, he will. Somebody say, he will. That right there, those two words really wrap up the Christmas season. That Jesus Christ came here on purpose, for a purpose. That God would become a man. That God would clothe himself in human flesh. And he would come here on mission, because he has a desire. And that desire, as we saw in Galatians chapter 4, was to carry out the Father's adoption plan. To bring us back into the family. [00:47:33] (37 seconds) #PurposefulIncarnation

That's why Jesus Christ came. He came to bring incredible gifts. Gifts that were beyond our ability to acquire by ourselves. And so as we continue digging deeper into non-traditional Christmas passages. We go to the book of Hebrews. And in the book of Hebrews, we know his name is Emmanuel. That God is with us. But in the book of Hebrews, we get a little bit deeper understanding of why Jesus came. And what Jesus came to do. [00:48:33] (36 seconds) #GiftsBeyondEarned

And in the book of Hebrews, we know his name is Emmanuel. That God is with us. But in the book of Hebrews, we get a little bit deeper understanding of why Jesus came. And what Jesus came to do. So Hebrews chapter 4. The Bible. Somebody say the Bible. It says this. Now that we know that we have Jesus. Okay. Emmanuel. God with us. All right. We just read Matthew chapter 1. We've been studying this now for a month. [00:48:53] (28 seconds) #HebrewsEmmanuel

See, Jesus is a priest. He's not a priest who's out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing. He's experienced it all yet without sin. And here's what the Bible says. This is what we get to do. So let's what, granted, walk right up to him. What does that mean? You know what that means? That God's not here to keep you at an arm's length away. That Jesus showed up to be with you to give you full access to him. You don't have to be fearful of God. [00:52:19] (36 seconds) #JesusOurHighPriest

I am a God who is slow to anger. I am a God who has, of unconditional, unfailing love. I am a God who is faithful. I am a God who is here to be with you. He says, I'm holding it out. Take it. Take the mercy. And listen to the last part. He says, stop with that. Stop it. He says, accept the help. Why? Because God doesn't help those who help themselves. God helps those who humbly come before him and say, Lord, you and only you have the gift. [00:55:53] (53 seconds) #TakeGodsMercy

``Christmas, don't let it slip through your fingers. God became a man. Not because he didn't have anything better to do, but because you and I needed a savior. See, I don't deserve it. You're right. None of us do. But it's called mercy. And it comes with grace. And Jesus satisfied the justice of God through the payment on the cross. See, Jesus was born to die so that we could be born again to live forever. To God be the glory. Amen. And he didn't die as a martyr. He died as a gift. He died as an offering. He gave his life as a sacrifice. [00:56:59] (54 seconds) #JesusSacrificeGift

And so my encouragement to you is, don't let Christmas slip through your fingers this year. Don't simply acknowledge that Jesus was born. Make sure that you humbly have approached him and said, Lord, I know I'm not worthy, but I'll take that gift of mercy. See, I accept the help because I know I can't get there without you. [00:57:53] (36 seconds) #AcceptChristMercy

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What does Emmanuel reveal about God’s nearness?

How does Jesus fulfill the Father’s adoption plan?

Why must we take mercy, not earn salvation?