GoodNews Florida

ENCOURAGEMENT 36 DECEMBER 2017 Good News • Broward Edition Profes sional Sound, Lighting and Video 954-942-0044 www.zbd.us /DXGDGLR DQG $VVRFLDWHV &HUWLILHG 3XEOLF $FFRXQWDQWV &3$ 6HUYLFHV $XGLWLQJ DFFRXQWLQJ WD[ SODQQLQJ DQG WD[ SUHSDUDWLRQ ZZZ O DXGDG L R FRP 3D\UROO 6HUYLFHV )OH[LEOH DQG FXVWRPL]HG SD\UROO VROXWLRQV WR PHHW \RXU QHHGV 2XWVRXUFHG 6HUYLFHV &)2 FRQWUROOHU DQG ERRNNHHSLQJ VHUYLFHV DUH DYDLODEOH RQ DQ DV QHHGHG EDVLV :K\ KLUH D IXOO WLPH HPSOR\HH" 6SHFLDOL]LQJ LQ PLQLVWHUV FKXUFKHV DQG QRQSURILW RUJDQL]DWLRQV &$6+ 21 7+( 6327 5811,1* 25 127 ;)&9=97)('%67 &3%87 &$// )5(( 72:,1* $9$,/$%/( As for the Boland family, this is in- deed the most wonderful time of the year. We absolutely love everything about the Christmas season: the sights, the sounds, the smells and most impor- tantly… Our Savior. I would like our meditation this month to lead us back, by faith, to Bethlehem, and in the company of the shepherd’s, gaze upon the one wrapped in swaddling bands and lying in a manger who was to be called Immanuel, God with us. “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Im- manuel” (Isaiah 7:14). This Old Testament prophecy finds it’s fulfillment in the New Testament with the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, confirmed in these words from the Gospel of Matthew. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:22-23). Should we not bow low before this baby who was God incar- nate? God took on human flesh and became man to be with us in our nature. He walked where we walk. He was tempted like we are tempted. He knew the pain of hunger and thirst. He also knew the ache of loneliness. He knew the hurt of being betrayed and denied by two who knew Him best. On top of all of that, this “Im- manuel” who was perfect in every way and knew no sin, became sin for us. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Our Lord Jesus, from before the foundation of the world, desired so much to be with us, so that He could do for us what we could never have done for ourselves. He took our condemnation. He took our punishment. He took our beating. He took our scourging. He took our crown of thorns. He took our nine-inch nails. He took our cross. He took our grave. Being with us meant he was going to have to take what we de- served, which included drinking the full cup of God’s wrath, and he did it all because of the joy set before him…YOU & ME! I want you to know this one simple truth this Christmas season: Immanuel is with you, right now, right where this finds you. • Lonely in your singleness, Jesus is with you! • Struggles in your school life, Jesus is with you! • Challenges in your marriage, Jesus is with you! • Difficulties at the office, Jesus is with you! • Prodigal children, Jesus is with you! God With Us Tommy Boland Good News (Continued on page 37 )