With Jesus

Matthew 1:23 NKJV

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

This glorious name, given to Jesus, reveals the heart of God and is the distinguishing mark of the message of good news that He speaks to the world.

God with us. God, Himself. Not apart nor distant or afar. With, close, near.

When Jesus walked the streets He came as God among men. He drew near to His people. The Apostle John says that the Word was with God and the Word was God, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among men and we beheld His glory as the only begotten of the Father (John 1:1, 14).

God became flesh and lived among His creation. And those who see Him, see His glory as the Son of God.

Shortly after Jesus begun His ministry, He began to invite others to join Him.

God Is Calling

Mark 3:13–15 NKJV

13 And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. 14 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:

Notice the language: Jesus called the disciples. He wanted them. The people He chose, were people He wanted to be with Him.

Illustration: As my daughter is preparing for marriage, I can’t help but think about my history with Pr. Nanette. I remember planning to propose: from the hunt for the perfect ring, to the planning of the occasion, to the very real nerves. All of the stress and fear and hope of that moment. All because I wanted her to be with me for the rest of our lives.

God loved the world so much that He came to us (John 3:16). He loves you and calls you so that you would be with Him!

The Chosen

Matthew 22:14 NKJV

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

God makes the invitation to the whole world. He’s not willing that anyone should perish. He desires all to come to Him (cf. 2 Peter 3:9).

Despite the fact that God calls many, not everyone is chosen.

What makes a person chosen?

Illustration: in 2004, when the San Diego Chargers selected Eli Manning with the first overall pick. Manning had stated before the draft that he would not play for the Chargers, so the Chargers had made a deal with the New York Giants. The deal was that San Diego would draft Manning, and New York would draft Philip Rivers and then trade Rivers plus several draft picks to San Diego for Manning. And that is what happened.

What makes a person chosen? Their response to the call.

James 4:1–8 NLT

1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. 4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. 6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

God is passionate for you. Other translations say the Spirit yearns jealously over us, or longs for us. The heart of God reaches for us. He draws us with His goodness (cf. Romans 2:4). He wants us.

And the best gift we can give Him is to want Him back.

Wanting God

Psalm 42:1 NLT

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.

Illustration: Pr. Nanette “showing up” and doing what I was doing. Because she wanted to be with me.

Luke 23:43 NKJV

And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Heaven is more than Paradise. It is the place where we will be with Him.

Heaven is God’s throne (Acts 7:49). It is a place that is pleasing to God. Everything that happens there happens according to His plans and purposes.

In order for heaven to be a paradise for us, we have to delight in God. We have to love His will on earth just as it is in heaven (cf. Matthew 6:10).

Psalm 34:8 NKJV

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

The more that we draw near to God the more we encounter Him. The more we encounter Him, the more we experience His goodness. In His presence is fullness of joy, and at His right hand pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11).

When you love the Lord, you spend time with Him. You “show up” where He is. You do the things that He likes doing. And when you do, you will discover joy inexpressible and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8).

So draw near to God. Spend time with Him. Make time for Him like you would do your boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse.

Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Conclusion

Immanuel. God with us. What an amazing promise! What a glorious gift. Will you receive it? Will you reciprocate it?

There is something that happens in us and to us when we spend time with Him.

The more time we spend with Him the closer our hearts become to Him. And this life is the beginning of eternity.

Altar: How will an eternity with God be for you if you do not have a desire to be with Him now? Turn to Him now in faith and discover His goodness. If you ask for your forgiveness