Last night was a great night! We had a few students make decisions for Christ and it was loads of fun as well. We took a look at the life of Simeon in Luke 2 and investigate what it meant to "Find Jesus". I was overwhelmed by the fact that Simeon actually held Jesus in his hands. Think about it, holding God in your hands! It is incredible to think about. There are times when each one of us feels far from God but Jesus came so that we could be close to God, to be near to Him.
Its weird because this time of year can be a painful time. Even though it should be a time of celebration and joy it can easily turn into a time of isolation and depression. Christmas is a time where we should be with family and celebrate but if your home life isn't great and your parents are going through a divorce it can actually amplify your loneliness and remind you that all is not well at home. Even so, this story in Luke is a reminder that Jesus was born into this world so that we can be close to God even though things may not be perfect in our lives. One of the names for Jesus is "Immanuel" which literally means "God with us". If we are Jesus followers and have Him in our lives, God is near to us.
We looked to Psalm 34:18 that tells us that "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Since Jesus came in the flesh we know that he understands our pain and knows, probably more than anyone else does, what it means to suffer. I want you to remember during Christmas that Jesus is with those of you who are going through difficult times and wants you to be in a relationship with Him so that you can draw comfort from the one true God, who knows what you are going through. Remember that when you call out to God in the painful situation that you are going through that He is near to you. Jesus was born so that you could truly live through Him. I hope you draw comfort from that this Christmas. Have a great Christmas and an awesome New Year!
Matt
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