In 2014, I drew this image as I pondered Jesus’ birth and God’s excitement around that historic event. I drew it as a coloring page for my children, and I offered it to other children as coloring pages. We used it as a collaborative color-in poster when my family and our neighbors visited the senior living facility down the road from us in Florida. I sold it as color-in cards and also made it available as an ornament. I am drawn to this piece once again, 10 years later.
I hope this devotional and the drawing will draw you into God’s excitement over Jesus, our Hope.
Emmanuel, God with us
Scripture in Focus:
All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). Isaiah 7:14 (NLT, The Bible)
Ponder as you color:
Emmanuel: God with us
Our God Almighty, Creator of everything, uses nature (God’s own creation) to declare the birth of God’s Son on earth. God uses the star to draw all people to God’s presence. Christ’s birth was not only for those who were waiting for the messiah-like Simeon and Anna ( Luke 2:22-38). Christ came for all, even those who were looking at the skies to understand who and where they were, like the wise men from the east who were faithfully studying what they were passionate about. God uses the very object that preoccupied them, the star(s), to bring them to Jesus so they may see and know God (John 14:9).
Out of God’s overflowing love for us, God enters the physical world as a baby (in the flesh). From the very beginning, God has desired to live among us. God’s presence in physical, linear time (Chronos) shows us in very tangible ways the life God has given each of us. We see God because of Jesus. We know God when we desire Jesus.
The flourishing plants with flowers behind the manger are fashioned in Madhubani style (Indian folk art). Thriving plants bloom, depicting God’s heart for all creation—abundance and fullness.
Contemplate over God’s heart for you and God’s desire to be among and with you.