Christmas Advent Bible Reading Plan: Jesus Is BornSampel

To Be God With Us

I love suspenseful stories. I love the build-up, the tension, the thrill. However, I have a confession to make. I actually get the most enjoyment out of a suspenseful story when I know how it ends. I have been known, more than a couple of times, to skip ahead to the last couple of pages of a book to read the ending before reading it from the start again. It gives me hope and a certainty that I can rest in because I know how the story ends.

One of the things I love about reading these scriptures is seeing that God knew the end from the beginning. He wrote the perfect storyline that no one could have predicted, with twists and turns to the birth of a King from a virgin in a manger. A plot twist no one saw coming. A story that communicated unconditional love for everyone - despite their status, skin colour, and financial situation.

As we rapidly draw near to Christmas day, let’s remember, reflect, and rest in the truth we are celebrating—that Christ has drawn near to us. He is closer than we can imagine. He is as intimate as our own breath. Jesus is our Immanuel, our God with us (Matthew 1:23).

From Genesis to Revelation, God has been leading His people back into a relationship with Him. God has been pursuing us, even in the midst of our defiance and sin (Romans 5:8). He was there in the garden, and He was there to bring us out of slavery in Egypt. He dwelt with us in the tabernacle and the temple and then sent and sacrificed His Son for us before sending His Spirit to be with us. Even now, He always prepares an eternal destination to be with us, but He is also in your today.

Whatever your day looks like today, God isn’t only with us, but God is with you. He is in your joyous mountaintop moments and your hopelessness, walking through the valley seasons. In the midst of all the activity of Christmas, our prayer is that you know and feel God is with you this Advent.

Prayer

God, I thank You that you knew the end from the beginning. I thank You that You planned the perfect entrance into the world to communicate that You are with us. In the midst of my mess and my joy - You are there. Reveal Yourself again to me today. In Jesus' Name, Amen.