Our new sermon series for December is “God with Us.” We are reminded that the Creator of the Universe, in the person of Jesus Christ, became a human being and lived on earth for over three decades. Jesus left His heavenly home, set aside His glory and majesty and lived as an ordinary man in service to His heavenly Father. He became Immanuel, God with Us. His death by crucifixion and His miraculous resurrection bridged the gap between sinful humans and a pure, holy God. We could once again be together with God, in intimate communion, as Adam and Eve had in the garden of Eden.
We know that God is with us, if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Yet how often are we “with God?” What does it mean to be “with” someone? It means to be in their presence, to spend uninterrupted and focused time with them. To share with them our thoughts and feelings and listen to their thoughts and feelings. Spending time with God is how we get to know Him – He becomes a real person based on our own experience, not just a figure we have read about or heard about from someone else.
However, we have an enemy that works hard to prevent us from spending time with God, getting to know Him and becoming more like Him. One of Satan’s most successful strategies is busyness. If the devil can keep us preoccupied with worldly concerns and commitments, he can significantly interfere with God’s plan to disciple and sanctify us.
Jesus warned about this in His parable of the sower:
“Now he who received the seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” Matthew 13:22 ESV.
Holiday parties, shopping and gift wrapping, family get togethers, travel, putting up decorations, and church celebrations are all part of this joyful season. Let us be intentional, however, to make time in busy schedules for being “with God” – both through solitude and silence so we can hear His “still, small voice” and in communion with other Christ followers at Sunday service and weekly small group meetings.
Let God Himself be the gift we want to receive for Christmas, the treasure of our hearts, and the joy of the world.
May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” Psalms 70:4 ESV
