3 God is with US
We were thinking yesterday that there is a personal dimension to the major Biblical idea that 'God is with us'. Mary was assured of this, personally, before she faced the task of being the mother of Jesus. We can take as given that this is also true for each of us, no matter the circumstances we face and the trials we experience. But, we need to acknowledge that in the Bible the constant references to 'you' are almost always in the plural. It is the group, the tribe, the community or the society that is being referred to.
So, God's relationship with his people, the Jews, is with THEM, as a people. The promises to Abram, Moses and David, for example, are made to them and through them to the nation. The promises and encouragements to the early church from Peter and Paul are to the group, that new humanity, the church. God is with US!
For each one of us reading this Daily Devotional there will be situations where to know that 'God is with us' provides an important sense of perspective and encouragement. In the life of our particular church, m2o, we have experienced tensions and conflicts that we would not have chosen and the implications are still being worked through.
But remember our theme: God is with us. Jesus is the centre of this and so is the Holy Spirit. Jesus made a promise to his disciples immediately before his execution:
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and BE WITH YOU for ever – the Spirit of Truth."
John 14.16 [NIV]
Pray for those you know who need to be assured that God is with them and, especially, for m2o that through the vacancy we might have renewed hope and confidence because God is with US!
Richard Farnell
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