2nd Week of Advent: The Really Good News-GOD with US!

Now we are friends of God, His children…dare we even say it?

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But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Luke 2:10 NIV

“The Good News isn’t just that Jesus died for our sins.  The Good News is EMMANUEL…GOD WITH US!”  So declared Deb at the end of our Bible Study.

As John and I drove home that evening, we reflected on her statement.  We recalled a conversation we had had years before when we were discussing what the heart of the gospel (“Good News”) is.   The Good News isn’t just that our sins are forgiven so we can go to heaven someday (and now we just do the best we can in the meantime).

The heart of it all is GOD is with US!  In Christ’s own Person, heaven and earth meet and kiss, so to speak!  In His very own Self, God and Man are forever joined.

Because of His Person and His Work, Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God, joins those of us who were once enemies, alone and without hope, to the Living God.  Now we are friends of God, His children…dare we even say it? in union with Him! GOD with US!  And that is truly News that is GOOD!  And there’s a Bible word for that — reconciliation.

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. Colossians 1:21-22 NIV

This week, rejoice in the truly Good News:  GOD with US!  No more chasm between God and us…Emmanuel has come!  (Romans 5:1-11 and 2 Cor 5:16-21)

Readings for the 2nd Week of Advent:

Sunday — John 5:17-24

Monday —John 5:25-47

Tuesday — Matt 9:32-38

Wednesday — Mark 8:27-38

Thursday — Mark 9:33-37

Friday — Mark 10:13-31

Saturday — Luke 19:28-40

 

 

This is an updated edition of a post originally published on A Branch in the Vine

Featured Image by Anne Nygård on Unsplash

 

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About the Author

Jan Loyd is a child of God, a disciple of Christ, a Jersey girl, a former nun, a teacher, and now a wife of 48 years, mother of two, grandmother of 5 boys and finally a baby girl...these are just some of the hats she wears or has worn. Her hat as teacher has seemed to be one she’s worn her entire adult life, ranging from teaching elementary school, homeschool, adult ESOL and GED language and writing. But along with all of these opportunities has been her favorite above all the rest: teaching women the Word of God in various ways, Precept Upon Precept and Bible Studies she’s developed by the grace and tutelage of God along the way. The heart of the message that she delights to share is that we are in union with the Living God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Currently you may find her on her devotional blog “A Branch in the Vine” where she shares several times a week and in her Bible Study/ devotional book The With-ness of our God: Relationship in Every Dimension.