Most of you will be doing candlelight services tomorrow. We had ours last night. (I'll explain if you ask.) It is always a highlight of our church calendar for me. Perhaps it is the utter simplicity of the time. Were it not for the fact that the folk at our assembly are addicted to sitting in the back of the Worship-Center, we would probably do away with microphones.
Our room is lighted by candles, we sing familiar Christmas carols, and read scripture. That is only about half the program, though; the other part is made up of people sharing about what God has done in their lives.
The angel told Joseph, Mary "will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) We heard about that last night. There were reports about God, in His grace, had delivered people from the ravages of sin, as well as praise offered for God's hand in keeping folk from sin's power.
Matthew 1 gives another name for God's Son become human--Immanuel. It comes from the Prophecy of Isaiah and means God with us. John points out, in his gospel, that for a time God tabernacled--pitched His tent--among us. From the Garden of Eden to the New Jerusalem it is always God's desire to be in the midst of His people. Last night I was powerfully reminded of the desire that ought to be in our heart for Him to be with us.
Simplicity vaulted to profundity. I don't know about the others who were there, but the lesson on the names of Christ had a greater impact on me than any sermon I can remember.

Lord, may I remember what those names mean--not just in abstract, but what they mean to me.
Amen.

It's STTA.