Community Corner
A Christmas Message
Pastor Eric J. Rey, pastor of the Hampton Bays Assembly of God, shares his Christmas thoughts.
"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel - which means, God with us." Matthew 1:23
The Biblical accounts of Jesus birth offer to us many practical insights into the nature of God. One being that God is not far removed from His creation - and especially from the pinnacle of His creation - mankind.
God is not far off in space somewhere, disinterested and non-involved. God is not watching us, From a Distance as the popular ballad sings. Rather, God is everywhere, close, interested, and involved.
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With mankind, God has proven His desire to be intimate. God did not want our sins to separate us from Him. So He gave His One and Only Son Jesus to be born into human flesh, live perfectly among us for a time, die for our sins on a cross, and rise from the dead. God did all this to restore our intimacy with Him. Through faith in who Jesus is and what He has done our sins are forgiven and our intimacy with God is restored.
Jesus is God with us! In terms of motive, He is God with us, one who is for us and not against us. In terms of distance, He is God with us, one who is always present and close by us. In terms of residence, He is God with us, one who lives within our hearts by the Holy Spirit if we invite Him in. In this way He becomes even more intimate — God in us!
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When we get the holiday blues and feel lonely, let's remember the lesson of Christmas — we are never alone. God is always with us. When we go through difficulties in life, let's remember the message of Christmas — we don't face them alone. God will never leave us nor forsake us. When we make mistakes and sin, let's remember the message of Christmas — we have a Savior who forgives us – The Lord Jesus Christ. His very name, "Jesus," is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word, "Yeshua," meaning "Yahweh Saves." The LORD saves!
Let's rejoice that Jesus Christ is God with us!
"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." - Matthew 1:21
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
