December 14th, 2023
There is hope for the grieving soul, for the lost and alone, the hurting and dead. This hope was promised several thousand years ago, and yet even today many miss it. If you are wondering what or who this hope is, the Bible declares just who HE is. The word of God to you declares that she (Mary) will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,” which means, “God with us.” There is the promised hope for the hurting, lonely, lost, etc.
Part of the wonderful good news of the New Testament is that God is not just a far-off God, but He is right with us. With us in many ways. With us as we face life, right here to help us. Not far away, and out of touch with what we are facing. Not difficult to reach, but only a prayer away. With us in understanding what it is like to live on earth and face the problems and difficulties we all face. With us in knowing what it is like to experience pain and loss. With us in knowing what it feels like to be rejected and despised and misunderstood. With us in knowing what it is like to be hungry and have nothing to eat. With us in knowing how difficult it can be to struggle against sin. With us in knowing what it is like to be attacked by the devil. Listen, we have a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet He went through it all without sin. Why? So we could come before Him without any sin in us to condemn us.
God came to earth. He became a man. Jesus experienced what we experience, yet He always walked in victory. Today, there is victory in this life and the life to come, but it is found in Jesus alone. The greatest gift that you can ever receive or give is the gospel (Christ Himself).