God's Love Up Close

"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." ²² So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ²³ "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."

Matthew 1:21-23

The almighty God revealed in the Bible is unique from all other gods and people in how personal He is.  He did not remain unseen and unknown in a place far away but chose to draw near to sinful man in the person of Jesus Christ.  People who fear God in both the Old and New Testament knew God was with them--even when He did not assume any physical form--by the amazing deliverances and salvation He wrought and fulfillment of His promises.  When the virgin Mary gave birth to a son in Bethlehem, God kept His word to visit His people in person and provide peace to all people.

Everyone who met with Jesus during His life on earth experienced God's divine love up close.  Jesus was not content to only become a human being who lived on earth, but He was pleased to do all the dirty work of rubbing shoulders with lost humanity in person.  He discussed matters of the Law with the experts who lacked knowledge of God in truth, and He touched people (even lepers!) when He healed them.  He took a dead girl by the hand and raised her to life!  There are rulers and celebrities today with bodyguards who will not allow themselves to be touched by anyone, but Jesus allowed Himself to be touched as well.  He immersed Himself in the lives of others to show God's love, and ultimately demonstrated it by dying for the sins of the world on Calvary.

The church is referred to in the New Testament as the body of Christ of which Jesus is the Head (1 Cor. 12:27).  Though Jesus ascended alive into heaven 40 days after His resurrection, the church is comprised of born again Christians who are filled with the Holy Spirit.  The church is more than Christ's fan club but many members united as a single organism that is divinely ordained and empowered to do God's will until He returns.  It is by fellowship with the church and connection with the lives of Christians where the love of God can still be seen today up close.  Jesus said in John 13:35, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

John 3:16 explains because God loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that whosever believes in Him will not perish but has eternal life.  While this is powerful and true, we may not always feel like God is personal or close.  Since Christians are united with other believers in the church by faith in Jesus, we have the incredible blessing to see God's love up close through our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We also have the opportunity to be a source of God's love and grace to others because of the Holy Spirit who indwells us.  How blessed we are to be known and loved by Jesus our Saviour, and may all who interact with us realise He lives because of His love up close in us.