“GOD WITH US” – DON’T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS!

Word from the Center
Written By Dr. Gregory Seltz

WORD FROM THE CENTER: MONDAY, December 22,  2025
Welcome to “Word from The Center” MONDAY, a devotional word from the Center of our faith, Jesus Christ, with reflections on His Word. I’m Gregory Seltz. Today’s verses are from Matthew chapter 1. In verse 22 and the last half of verse 23, Joseph is told this about Mary and her child:  

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins….They shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us)

“GOD WITH US” – DON’T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS!

Who would refuse a peace that lasts because God Himself is “with us?” Well, many do. Why? Because as sinful, rebellious people by nature, we tend to settle for counterfeits instead of the real thing. When offered an eternal peace that comes from sins forgiven, we would rather settle for “peaceful circumstances” or just a temporal “peace of mind,” right? We want the peace that comes with bills paid, relationships intact, body/health doing fine, and purposeful work to do for as long as we’d like to do it. Instead of “God with us” no matter the circumstances, we often would rather just have circumstances to our own liking.

Let this Christmastide, then, be a time of reflection where you think about what it means to have faith in the Savior who is “God with us” no matter the circumstances of the moment. That’s the offer that faced Joseph that first Christmastide. He had so much on his mind. Mary, his fiancé, was pregnant, but the child wasn’t his. What would he do? How would he face the sneers of the people of his community? He had a bit of courage. He reasoned that he would try to protect Mary amidst his disappointment, resolving to “divorce her quietly” (Matthew 1:19). But then things changed dramatically. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appears in a dream saying, “Do not fear to take Mary as your wife” (verse 20) because God is at work in ways that you can’t totally understand. Joseph could have run for the hills. But, thankfully, Joseph put His faith in God’s Word and wouldn’t settle for anything less than Mary as his wife and Jesus as His Savior, no matter the personal cost at the moment.

Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter are vital to us because they deliver what we really need. It’s the reality of sins forgiven and eternal life secured. God brings us peace when He pays the price to come into our world. He promises to be with us in all circumstances with a peace that lasts no matter the present trouble because we live now and forever in Him (see Matthew 28:20; John 11:25-26). That peace comes when you know the only One who is able, capable, and with you in all things to bring you blessing. Faith in Him says, “Nothing else, and surely nothing less.” As the hymn prays, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!” Come mightily into our daily lives!

When God is “with us” and “for us” (Matthew 1:23; Romans 8:31), we can face whatever comes because our lives are secure in His hands. When we realize that IN CHRIST we have even more than ENOUGH, then life becomes a journey of “God with us” that endures eternally with His abundant joy and a peace that lasts. Receive them even now, amidst whatever circumstances you are facing. A blessed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to you all!

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, give us the wisdom and the faith of Joseph to take You at Your Word, even when our circumstances are challenging. And give us a sense of what it means to experience the peace and joy which come from faith in You, the God who came into our lives to save us, and who is with us even now. AMEN

Other Devotions
“GOD WITH US” – DON’T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS!
“GOD WITH US” – DON’T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS!

Today’s verses are Isaiah 35:3-4, where the Bible declares:

Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”

THE TRUE GOD COMES FOR HIS PEOPLE!
THE TRUE GOD COMES FOR HIS PEOPLE!

Today’s verses are Isaiah 35:3-4, where the Bible declares:

Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”

REPENT? DOES ANYONE DO THAT ANYMORE TODAY?
REPENT? DOES ANYONE DO THAT ANYMORE TODAY?

Today’s passage is Matthew 3:1-2, where the Bible says,   

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

A THANKSGIVING LIFE SPREADS GOD’S JOY AROUND!
A THANKSGIVING LIFE SPREADS GOD’S JOY AROUND!

Today’s Bible reading is Philippians 4:4-6 where the Apostle Paul says,

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

AN “ALL THINGS FOR ALL PEOPLE” SAVIOR – THERE’S ONLY ONE!
AN “ALL THINGS FOR ALL PEOPLE” SAVIOR – THERE’S ONLY ONE!

Today’s reading is Colossians 1:17-20 where the Bible says this of Jesus Christ:    

17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross

A DAY OF HOPE IS COMING!
A DAY OF HOPE IS COMING!

Today’s reading is from the Old Testament Prophet Malachi and these portions of the first three verses of chapter 4.   

1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble... 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings…. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act,” says the Lord of hosts.

STAND FIRM IN CHRIST FOR OTHERS!
STAND FIRM IN CHRIST FOR OTHERS!

Today’s reading is 2nd Thessalonians 2:14-15 where the Bible says,    

14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

A FOREVER FREEDOM THAT HOLDS, THAT LASTS!
A FOREVER FREEDOM THAT HOLDS, THAT LASTS!

Today’s Bible reading is Revelation 7:9–12 where the Apostle John recounts this vision of heaven:

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

WHAT MATTERS IS “WORTH LIVING AND DYING FOR!”
WHAT MATTERS IS “WORTH LIVING AND DYING FOR!”

Today’s reading is 2 Timothy 4:7, where St. Paul writes,

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

HANG IN THERE WITH GOD BECAUSE HE HANGS IN THERE WITH YOU!
HANG IN THERE WITH GOD BECAUSE HE HANGS IN THERE WITH YOU!

Today’s reading is Luke 18:1-8 which says,    

And [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

WHEN LIFE IS BEYOND OUR CONTROL, THANK GOD THERE’S A SAVIOR!
WHEN LIFE IS BEYOND OUR CONTROL, THANK GOD THERE’S A SAVIOR!

Today’s reading is Luke 17:11-19 which recounts this event:     

11 On the way to Jerusalem [Jesus] was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

GOOD COUNSEL OR BAD COUNSEL? IT MATTERS!
GOOD COUNSEL OR BAD COUNSEL? IT MATTERS!

Today’s reading is Luke 17:1-4 which challenges us with these words: 

And [Jesus] said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. 3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

HERE'S WHERE TO PUT YOUR TRUST!
HERE'S WHERE TO PUT YOUR TRUST!

Today’s reading is Psalm 146:1-6 and 10, which proclaims:     

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! 2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. 3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. 4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;

on that very day his plans perish. 5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,

whose hope is in the LORD his God, 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;….. 10 The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!

WHEN IT MATTERS - NO DIVIDED ALLEGIANCES!
WHEN IT MATTERS - NO DIVIDED ALLEGIANCES!

Today’s reading is Luke 16:10-13 where Jesus says,    

10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

LOST AND FOUND – IT STILL REALLY MATTERS!
LOST AND FOUND – IT STILL REALLY MATTERS!

Today’s reading is Luke 15:8-10 where Jesus says,    

“What woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

SALT AND LIGHT – OUR ULTIMATE LABOR!
SALT AND LIGHT – OUR ULTIMATE LABOR!

Today’s reading is Luke 14:34-35 where Jesus says,    

“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

MORE THAN MORALISM!
MORE THAN MORALISM!

Today’s reading is Luke 14:7-11 which says,    

7 Now [Jesus] told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

IT’S NOT WHO YOU KNOW, BUT WHETHER HE KNOWS YOU!
IT’S NOT WHO YOU KNOW, BUT WHETHER HE KNOWS YOU!

Today’s reading is Luke 13:23-27 and 30 which says,

23 Someone asked [Jesus], “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ 27 “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’…30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

GOOD DIVISION? IT DEPENDS!
GOOD DIVISION? IT DEPENDS!

Today’s reading is Luke 12:49-51, where Jesus says,   

49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.

WHIP WORRY AND START TO LIVE AGAIN!
WHIP WORRY AND START TO LIVE AGAIN!

Today’s reading is Luke 12:22-23 and 29-31 where Jesus says,

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes…. 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”

HEAVENLY MINDED, EARTHLY GOOD!
HEAVENLY MINDED, EARTHLY GOOD!

Today’s reading is Luke 12:13-15 which says,

13 Someone in the crowd said to [Jesus], “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

MAN, THAT’S LIVING!
MAN, THAT’S LIVING!

Today’s reading is Colossians 2:6-8, where the Bible says,   

 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

THE ONE THING NEEDED IS PROVIDED!
THE ONE THING NEEDED IS PROVIDED!

Today’s reading is Luke 10:38-42, where the Bible says,    

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “You are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

BE A NEIGHBOR BECAUSE WE HAVE A SAVIOR
BE A NEIGHBOR BECAUSE WE HAVE A SAVIOR

Today’s reading is Luke 10:30-37, where Jesus responds to the question, “Who is my neighbor?”    

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denariic and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

FREEDOM TO DO GOOD!
FREEDOM TO DO GOOD!

Today’s reading is Galatians 6:9-10, where the Bible says,   

9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

FOR FREEDOM TO ENDURE - THERE’S A PRICE TO BE PAID!
FOR FREEDOM TO ENDURE - THERE’S A PRICE TO BE PAID!

Today’s reading is Galatians 5:1, where the Bible says,   

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

THE ONLY IDENTITY THAT OVERCOMES, BONDS, AND HOLDS
THE ONLY IDENTITY THAT OVERCOMES, BONDS, AND HOLDS

Today’s reading is Galatians 3:26-29, where the Bible says,   

26 So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

A BRIDGED GAP CAN STAND IN THE GAP!
A BRIDGED GAP CAN STAND IN THE GAP!

Today’s verses are 2nd Corinthians 5:19-20, where St. Paul says, 

19 That God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not counting man’s sins against them. And He has committed to us this ministry of reconciliation, 20 for we are God’s ambassadors, as though were making His appeal through us, be reconciled to God!

HIS ASCENSION, YOUR EMPOWERMENT!
HIS ASCENSION, YOUR EMPOWERMENT!

Today’s reading is Acts 1:7-11 which begins with Jesus telling His disciples,
“It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

CALM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM!
CALM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM!

Today’s reading is John 16:31-33, where Jesus says,   

31 “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Dr. Gregory Seltz
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