The chorus from the Grammy award-winning song From a Distance gives the impression that God keeps His eye on us from a long way off.
God does watch over us. For example, when He reminded Jacob of His promise to bless all the families of the earth through his family, God also promised to watch over them wherever they went (Genesis 28:14-15). To know that God is watching over us is a comforting thought. But He’s not watching from a distant place.
God is also with us. The Creator of heaven and earth is not peering over the edge of heaven—watching over us from a galaxy far, far away. The message of the Bible is this: God desires to dwell with us. That’s why the baby Jesus was to be named Immanuel. “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us’ ” (Matthew 1:23).
Right from the beginning, God intended to dwell with His image-bearers. And even though we as human beings have repeatedly made it difficult for Him to do so, God, in His grace, always intervenes and draws us to Himself. This cycle is repeated in story after story found in the Scriptures.
Part of the good news of Jesus is that God can dwell with those who love Him by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 4:6). And this time it’s for keeps. He will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Because Jesus came to dwell among us and sacrifice His life for us, He also made it possible for us to be saved from our sins (Matthew 1:21).
May we celebrate and be comforted by the truth that the loving, saving God of heaven and earth is dwelling with us today. Yes, God is truly with us!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 10:1-24
More:
Read Matthew 28:20 and consider what Jesus told His disciples before ascending to heaven.
Next:
What does it mean to you that the Bible so often reveals God’s desire to dwell with us? Why was it so important for Jesus to come as a man to earth?
Gary Shultz on July 31, 2016 at 6:52 am
As you know Jeff, God has worked at great expense, actually the greatest expense that could ever be known, to return, and yet make it even better, what was started in the garden. Fellowship! We always seem to fall into the error of picturing the complete God Head to be like us. We think God sees like us, compiles information like us, has limits on how anything can be done, like us. Christ was made to be like us in form; however, no limits restrict God. As He uses in Isaiah 50 “Is My arm too short” once again relating to our form, but letting us know, “No limits”. Christ said hearts and treasure are found together in Matt. I would think with the investment of His Son in us, on this earth, He does not view from a distance, He tells us that. As you have said, we have made it repeatedly difficult for God to be with us, but without question, He will completely prevail. God will continue to offer His salvation and fellowship. Thanks Jeff
hsnpoor on July 31, 2016 at 8:59 am
Blessed Sunday everyone! Great reminder, Jeff, that our God is not a distant, unreachable God, but rather an everlasting presence as close as our next breath, who loves us more than we can fathom. The hope and joy of this knowledge is the only thing that makes this life sweet. I also want to remind everyone to keep lifting Sandy in prayer. Her health problems continue and her recovery is not moving in the right direction. What she can eat is limited which is giving rise to a lose of weight and decreased energy, neither of which is good as she looks forward to need for future surgery.
Gary Shultz on July 31, 2016 at 5:00 pm
Thanks Kim, I watch for both of you. Sorry to hear about Sandy; however, we have a super great resource, prayer.
hsnpoor on August 1, 2016 at 7:52 am
Thank you, Gary! Very much appreciated!