There are many wonderful things about Christmas that I enjoy & am grateful for. If I were to pick the one thing about the birth of Christ that I’m the most thankful for – and the thing that has had the greatest impact on mankind – I’d have to choose the fact that God has promised to never leave us. This is something that means far more than most of us realize.
In speaking about the birth of Jesus, the Bible tells us in Matthew 1:23: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, ‘God with us.’” Before Jesus came, the Old Testament records accounts of God visiting His people & speaking to His people. Yes as wonderful as these visitations from God were, they were not a common occurrence. Old Testament leaders like Abraham & David only heard directly from God a few times during their lives. And Moses, who probably heard from God more than any other Old Testament saint, still spent many years at a time with no visit from The Lord.
But this all changed when God sent His Son to us! Through Jesus, we now have a direct access to the Father that had never been available before. We never have to pray, “God be with me” because God has already told us, “I will never leave you” (see Hebrews 13:5). God is available to us 24/7, anytime we want to call out to Him. He’s ready to heal, strengthen, comfort, bring peace…whatever the need, He’s ready to provide. It’s never a matter of God not being there for you. It’s simply a matter of you being reminded that He’s there.
Jesus was born to die for us. His birth, life, burial & resurrection brought us into an eternal connection with the Father. As we live in this incredible New Testament relationship with God, always remember the final words spoken by Jesus in the gospel of Matthew: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” He’s not going anywhere. The question is: Are you going to Him?
Have a very blessed Christmas & New Year!!
