DECEMBER 4 BEEN WITH JESUS By Sean Pierce Director, Hudson Baptist Association Adjunct Faculty, Word of Life Bible Institute
“And they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:23b) And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13b)
As a father of eight children, a father-in-law of two, and a newly minted grandfather of one, one of the things I treasure most is time with family. There is truly no greater gift I could receive from my family this Christmas than time with them – simply being together, enjoying life, and celebrating the family we have together. Looking at past Christmases as a child, what I loved the most wasn’t a particular gift – I can barely remember more than a couple. I appreciate the memories and time as a family. That’s also what I look forward to most this Christmas. I’m struck this holiday season that Jesus is not just God for us, meaning He died on the cross for our sins and rose again victorious over our sin that separated us from God. He is also God with us. That sacrifice removes the barrier between God and us through faith. With that newfound relationship, the blessing isn’t just freedom, forgiveness of sin, or a future in heaven. We get to be with the God of the universe today, the God who is never too busy for us and wants to be with us. Never a day goes by that we are not with Him once we enter that relationship through faith. That’s a comforting reality. It is also life changing. People around us tend to notice that change. What the religious leaders who arrested Peter and John noticed wasn’t their clothing, a strange accent, or their former professions as fishermen. They noticed that they were common men who spoke differently with boldness and clarity. They noticed they had been with Jesus. So, I’m encouraged today to know that I’m truly with Jesus and He’s still changing my life. I’m challenged to live that out every day. I’m grateful for and challenged by those realities. Have you taken that faith step, and will you live that new life with Him today?
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