Your Grace-Full Christmas Present # 8 revolves around the reason for present # 7 which was gd=GL in case you need to review that one. This is the primary difference that I share with people around the world when I get the question, “What makes Jesus different?” This was the focal point of change that happens with the time of, ministry of and knowledge of Jesus Christ!
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).” – Matthew 1:22-23
This gift is one of the cornerstones of Grace! This is the primary difference and one thing that makes Jesus, The Jesus of Grace and Peace different from religious Jesus or any other god that could be followed! I am not saying this to inflame idiots who wish to focus on our differences, I am saying this to create the knowledge base that will help struggling Christians see the Reality of Real Grace-Full Relationship over the comfort zone that so easily entangles any of us that doze off spiritually or never wake up spiritually!
The reason for the Amazement here is that every other god that had come up to that point or since had been and is a god of distance, a god of easily losing favor for actions or inactions – JESUS CHRIST Radically changed forever the idea of GOD, the closeness of God and your ability to approach The Thrown of God At Any Moment!
This Present – number 8 – centers around three little words – “God with us” – GOD WITH US! IMMANUEL! This is AMAZING when you stop and think about it and here are some reasons why:
- In Every place that you go that God is with you!
- In Every challenge you face that God is with you!
- In Every desperate moment you will go through that God is with you!
- NOTHING can separate you from His Love, His purpose and His plan for you!
There is TOTAL REST in The God that went to the cross to set you FREE!
Understand this and life becomes a Very easy and wonderful experience! Miss this and pain ensues, challenges never end and discouragement will be a constant battle!
When Jesus said “Behold I stand at the door and knock and if any man opens the door I will come in and dine with him!” This is the Jewish invitation to ultimate intimacy and closeness between two human beings! Today we think of intimacy as sexual but that was Not the case in the time of Christ – in His time Intimacy was breaking bread together, dining together, Being together for that which must be done for Life and for one of the greatest joys of Life – eating!
But here is the thing – He Never leaves! There is Nothing that you can do, say or fall into that God ever leaves you! There is No “sin”, moment or weakness that God is not in control of and using for His Glory to shine His Love – but you have to grow into this awareness to find His Freedom!
A good place to start to grow into this is this short little meditation. Find a time and a place that is comfortable to you or when you need to be reminded of the Goodness of God in Every circumstance and after you have the following memorized or if you want to keep your eyes open just have this on a card in front of you and:
Breathe in and say:
“God is with me”
Breathe out and say:
“God is in me”
Practice this for as long as you have breath as the reality of it grows with each breath and His Goodness is magnified the more you look into it!
