~ GOD with Us ~

"WHY did Jesus leave heaven to come to earth? Such love defies reason or logic. ONLY God could have thought of such a plan, and only God's Son could have carried it out.

We cannot even guess what it involved for Jesus to put on humanity with all its temptations, problems and weaknesses. His willingness to come to earth to save sinful humanity is inconceivable.

THERE are many times when the trials and sorrows of this life are overwhelming. Loved ones fall prey to disease and pain and death. Friends turn against each other. THOSE who once followed the Lord now have no desire for the Word or for the house of God. Life's painful burdens cause us to cry out, "O Lord, when are you coming to take us out of all of this? How could You have left heaven for this?"

The Word tells us, "For your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9). JESUS left heaven and became a man! He suffered pain in His body, shed tears at the loss of a loved one, knew the hurt of being forsaken by friends and died in shame on a cross. WHY did He agree to do this? Not only so that we might have forgiveness from sin but that in time of need His loving presence would be our comfort. "His name shall be called Immanuel - God with us."

"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)."

JUDY FREELAND

* See associated post dated 27/11/2010 - Eternity!