God With Us - II Chronicles 4-6 and John 10:24-42
I believe it is safe to say that most people in the world see God as being far away and very difficult to find. The message of the Bible is very different. The Bible tells us from beginning to end that God has chosen to be with us. In the Garden God came and walked with Adam and Eve each day. God appeared to many people after that time. Then, He told Moses that He would live with them in the Tabernacle as they wandered in the wilderness. After they came into the Promised Land, God pointed out that Jerusalem was His special place. Today, we read how Solomon finished the Temple and God's presence or His glory came to dwell in that building. We can understand why the Jews felt blessed. They had the God of the universe living with them. Solomon was awe struck to think that God would come to live in the building he had constructed. We should all be glad that God wants to be with us.
In John 10 Jesus makes it very clear that He is God. What did He do? He came down from heaven to live with us. One of His titles is Emmanuel, which means God with us. The Jewish leaders did not realize it, but we should see that God loved the world so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son, His special son, who was God in human flesh to be with us and to die for us. He spoke to us, so we heard the very words of God. He was not far away. He was right here with us. However, someone might say that Jesus lived here a long time ago, and God is not with us now. The Bible says that now our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Of course, that refers to believers. Yes, God is with us. He is not far away. Once a person accepts Christ as Lord and Savior, God comes to live in that person. How close is that? I am afraid we can't claim not to know God's will because He is so far away and inaccessible, can we? In fact, the opposite is true. He is here, and He loves to speak with us. Imagine, God is with you all day and wherever you go. That will change your perspective on a lot of things.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 7-9 and John 11:1-29.
In John 10 Jesus makes it very clear that He is God. What did He do? He came down from heaven to live with us. One of His titles is Emmanuel, which means God with us. The Jewish leaders did not realize it, but we should see that God loved the world so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son, His special son, who was God in human flesh to be with us and to die for us. He spoke to us, so we heard the very words of God. He was not far away. He was right here with us. However, someone might say that Jesus lived here a long time ago, and God is not with us now. The Bible says that now our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Of course, that refers to believers. Yes, God is with us. He is not far away. Once a person accepts Christ as Lord and Savior, God comes to live in that person. How close is that? I am afraid we can't claim not to know God's will because He is so far away and inaccessible, can we? In fact, the opposite is true. He is here, and He loves to speak with us. Imagine, God is with you all day and wherever you go. That will change your perspective on a lot of things.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 7-9 and John 11:1-29.