First, let me say, “Merry Christmas.”
My wish is that yours is peaceful and includes those you love.
I was thinking the other day that if I had to describe the year 2020 with one word, that word would be “isolation.” With the shutdowns, quarantines, and social distancing we’ve endured since March, the tolls on our interpersonal relationships have been devastating in some cases. Today, as I’m speaking, 33 men are isolated from their families at Faith Mission because of COVID-19.
We were not meant to isolate. God created us all as relational beings. In Genesis, He saw that it was not good for Adam to be alone and He gave him Eve. There is guidance throughout Scripture regarding friendships, parenting, and marriage. In Acts 2, the “koinania” fellowship of the early believers was key to the Christian life. And it still is today.
But never has the gift of relationships been on display more, than on that first Christmas. When God reached down from Heaven and became one of us. His name … Immanuel … meaning, “God with us.”
Have you ever stopped to think about everything that is wrapped up in that little word, “with”?
Who is with us? God!
Who is He with? Us!
How is He with us? In the form of a man … Jesus!
Why is He with us? So, we could be with Him forever!
When is He with us? Always! He will never leave us nor forsake us!
Even though 2020 has forced many of us to isolate from others, even the ones we love the most, God has been with us.
Let me close with this. It you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, would you come to Him today. He took the first step in your direction and is waiting to be with you.
Merry Christmas and remember, “Every Story, including yours, Matters.”
