God with us

Happy New Year! Are you looking forward to a great year in 2020? Of course you are; I am too! Last night I was laying awake in bed, trying to go back to sleep. After spending some time in prayer, I decided to think back over the past five decades of my life (when you start thinking in decades, not years, you may be getting old). I had vivid memories from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 00’s and 10’s.

One of those my memories was from 1976. Not only was it the bicentennial year for the U.S., but even more importantly to me at the time, it was the year I got my first library card. That was so long ago we were still using card catalogs to locate books! The reason that memory stood out in my mind was because I clearly remember the red print of the expiration date on that little blue library card. I stared at that date, mesmerized by how far away it was, trying to get my mind wrapped around it. Would I still be alive? What would the world look like then? What would my life look like then, if I could possibly survive that long? The expiration date on my library card, that seemed so far away, was 1980. Yes, four years to an 8 year old is a long time. Somehow, I made it to 1980 and to junior high school… and then some!

The truth is, thinking back over those years and decades, I have some great memories. I also have some memories that are not so great. That’s life. But over those years, one thing that I could count on, in the good times and not, was that God was with me; even when I may not have always been with Him.

I am so thankful that God wants to be with us. I am thankful that, as my friend Will Oswald reminded us on Sunday, that God has always wanted to be with us. That Jesus came to Earth to be Immanuel, God WITH us. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). Do you want to be with Him? Will you make being with God a priority in 2020? Will you commit now to stop, look and listen to Him daily? Stop and spend intentional time with Him each day - in His Word, in prayer. Will you look to Him for leadership in your life daily in 2020? Will you listen to His Word and follow His commands in 2020? He has gone to great lengths to be with you! Will you commit to be with Him this year? No matter what you might face this year, or this decade, know that God wants to be with you.

For much more from Will Oswald’s message, God WITH Us, click here.