January 18, 2007
From the Couch
Well, another Christmas season (and another year) is in the books. I can’t believe that it has all passed so quickly! If your home is like ours, the Christmas lights are already down, the decorations and the Christmas CD’s are back in storage, the tree is history, and the mountain of Christmas candy has been reduced to a little pile of rubble. In time, our pants will again be a little easier to button (we hope), the excitement over the gifts will begin to fade, and Christmas of 2006 will become an ever-fading memory.
But as I write this, I can’t help but be filled with the same joy and excitement that I felt on Christmas day. Why? Because I hold one gift that will never lose its value, and will never stop giving. You know what I’m talking about, because you are holding it too. “The virgin shall be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” – which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Have you ever stopped and really considered the impact that the gift of Immanuel has on your life? Because of His birth, His obedient life and death, and His resurrection, the veil of separation between God and His people has been torn away (Mat 27:51) and we are no longer alienated from God. Every day is Christmas, because through Christ we are now sons and daughters of the Most High God, and can go confidently to His throne of grace to find mercy and help in every need (Hebrews 4:16). Without Christ it was all hopeless, but now God is with us! He is with us in our struggles with sin. He is with us in our physical infirmities. He is with us in our financial hardships. He is with us in our times of grief and mourning. And yes, He is most definitely with us as we move into a time of transition in the life of our church family. He will always be with us. And one day, He will return bodily and make all things new. On that day we will rejoice as we hear these wonderful words – “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Rev 21:3-4).
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready! In the mean time, we shouldn’t fear what the future will bring. On the contrary, we should look forward to the coming year with great joy and expectation. Why? Because if we have entrusted our lives and families and church body to Jesus Christ, we hold the gift that will forever keep on giving. And if God is with us, who can be against us?
Pastor Steve
Posted by Jennifer Herrmann at January 18, 2007 11:10 AM