Someone With Skin On

Saturday, December 18, 2021
Listen to this devotional:
Listen while you read: "O Come All Ye Faithful"1 (Lyrics)

Matthew 1:20-23 – But while [Joseph] thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." (NKJV)

Last year, COVID-19 restrictions made life tough for all of us. Here in Alberta, Canada, we couldn't get together for Christmas with our family as usual. Our visits were limited to brief encounters outside as my husband and I delivered baking, and presents for the grandchildren.

One day in December, we gingerly approached our youngest son's back door and stepped up onto the deck. Nick cracked open the vent door and peered out. The screen made his face hazy. One by one, he called the children to come and say "Hi". The seven-year-old sat on the chair by the door with his comforting blanket to his face. He hardly said a word. "When can we see each other again?" he had written in the note left outside for us. Looking through a crack in the screen door was not a visit — not at all what he had in mind. He was the kid who would tackle us at the door, and revel in hugs and snuggles. Now, he was tongue-tied. He wanted "someone with skin on".

We can't see God either, and His ways are beyond understanding. When Jesus came to this earth, He was that "someone with skin on". Knowing Jesus is the only way that we can understand what God is like and how to relate to Him. In the Old Testament, through Isaiah the prophet, God gave this child the name "Immanuel". This was not a given name — Jesus wasn't called that — but a designation to describe His nature — God with us.

John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (NKJV) — Jesus was God.

John 1:14a – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (NKJV) — God is with us for the first time in the form of Jesus.

Matthew 28:20b – I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (NKJV) — Jesus said that He would always be with us.

In this Christmas season, how can we make the concept of "God with us" real? We can be that "someone with skin on" to the people whom we encounter — the needy, the lonely, the hurting, and the ones who don't know Him.

Prayer: Lord, give us creative ways to connect with others. Help us to be an encouragement, and by our actions, to show others what You are like. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, our Immanuel, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Alice Burnett <terrencera.burnett@gmail.com>
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada

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1 Comment

  • PresbyCan Feedback says:

    Thank you.


    I pray for all prayers asked for daily.


    Thank you – God with us is indeed the message of Christmas.


    Thanks for the good reminder, Alice. Have a Merry Christmas.


    A lovely message Alice. Thank you.
    Blessings.


    Helps me today, Alice. Well-said! Thanks for putting a fresh face on an old truth.


    Thank you. Alice, for this encouragement to show others what Christmas is all about.


    So well done Alice, thank you. May you and your family have a joyous Christmas season.


    Thank you, for sharing this encouraging with us! Blessings.
    God is good all the time. All the time God is good!


    Amen Alice.
    Merry Christmas to you and yours.
    Blessings


    Oh Alice, your devotion moved me deeply.
    Thank you so much for sharing!
    And may you have a blessed Christmas.


    Thank you for your thoughts and scriptures shared for today. Have a blessed Christmas with family as we have less restrictions than last year.


    Alice,
    Thank you for your personal and sensitive encouragement to minister to others in the example set by God.


    Beautiful, thank you and Merry Christmas with joy, hugs, and snuggles this year. It is neat the creative ways God gives us to share Him with others.
    God bless.


    As a grandmother, but here in the Atlantic provinces, I have had similar experiences with a hugging family. Christmas was not the same last year and may not be this year either. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.


    Good morning, Alice
    Thank you for your devotional this morning, during these difficult times it is good to be reminded that Jesus is always with us.
    Blessings and a very blessed Christmas to you and yours.


    How very poignant! Yes. Early in my ministry, I hugged this elderly lady and she started to cry. She said she hadn’t been hugged since her mother died! After that, I was not shy to be present for people, and God poured out his love for others into my heart, to bless them. Praise Him forever!


    Lovely devotional, Alice. Thank-you. I used the ‘God with skin on’ story in an Advent sermon last year- thanks for the reminder.
    Christmas blessings to you and your family. I hope you can get a little closer to them physically this year. Some of our family is coming today from out of town. Praying for safe travels as it is snowing here.


    My grandson is having the available family for his wonderful Christmas breakfast we missed last year, but we 3 will have the rest of the day at home with no big dinner. There are always the in-law families and that’s to be expected. I will enjoy some good Christmas music and programming for the last day. May you and yours enjoy a very blessed time together. God bless you in many special and surprising ways.


    Happy Saturday, Alice!
    Thank you for today’s devotion. It resonated with me, especially from the point of visiting/spending time, or not, thanks to the meanness of COVID, with grandchildren, friends, and family.
    However, you have encouraged me to continue going forward in trying to cheer on others and make their day. God IS with us! Let us rejoice and be glad in that! Let us cling to the hope that life will be beautiful again.
    Merry Christmas!
    (ON)


    Thank you for the positive and encouraging reminders.

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