God With Us - Ezekiel 42-44 and I John 1

The purpose of the Temple, which Ezekiel was shown and was told to measure, was to be a place for God to dwell with His people again after they had turned from their sins. That was always God's desire from the time of the Tabernacle in the wilderness. However, He can't abide with sin, so there had to be a time of cleansing before He could come back. The purpose of I John 1 was to say to all of us that Jesus had come in the flesh to be with us, and we can still have fellowship with Him and the Father. That is the longing of God's heart. Once a person turns from sin to the Savior, the result is the presence of God with him or her. God does not forgive our sins and leave us. He is there with us all the time. At Christmas we celebrate the coming of Christ to be with us on this earth. Every day we, as believers, should celebrate the reality of God being with us to walk with us and talk with us. If God can become a man, He can surely relate to us in the world in a personal way. Have you come to "know" Christ? Do you "know" that He is with you? How is your "fellowship" with Him? What a terrible thing to miss! The God of the universe, the One who came to die for you, wants to be with you all the time. Don't forget, and don't miss Him. If the relationship is strained because of sin, practice I John 1:9. He wants to cleanse you and to be with you all the way to heaven.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 45-46 and I John 2.