God Is for Us, with Us, and In Us

​     Matthew’s gospel has a quote directly from the Old Testament Book of Isaiah. “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). God is not far from anyone as the writer of Acts declares, “…He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our very being” (Acts 17:27-28). It was God’s intention and plan from before the Creation of the world to be with us and in us. God with us means God is for us. God’s ultimate plan even went beyond being for us and with us, His plan included being in us.
     Acts Chapter Two teaches that those who are baptized into Christ receive the promised gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). The Colossian letter continues to motivate us with a most amazing truth. Scripture reads, “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in You, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). God is not only for us and with us, He is in us. Let us continue to live in Christ, being rooted and built up in Him by His strength and power.

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Clark Tatum