Monday, January 31, 2011
END TIMES READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 5
Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
END TIMES READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 5
SCRIPTURE READING
Matthew 1:23 (NIV) “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call himImmanuel” (which means “God with us”).
When sin entered mankind in the Garden of Eden, man was severed from the presence of
God. God was never again with His people in the way that He had been with them in Eden
– walking and talking with them. Certain individuals experienced the closeness of God, such
as Moses, Abraham and David, but the nearness and intimacy offered in Eden was no more.
When Abraham entered the Tent of Meeting, they stood at the entrances of their homes.
When the Tabernacle was constructed, only the high priest was allowed entrance into the
Holy of Holies, and even then only once a year! The Tabernacle was constructed in the
wilderness that God could come down in the presence of the people for them to worship, but
the people always remained at a distance. But the work of this Child on the cross married
the Spirit of God to the people once and for all! At the moment of Jesus’ death the Temple
curtain was ripped in two, signifying that God was no longer going to live separately from
His people. The Child of the prophecy was the Son of God who made a way for us to reunite
with Mighty God!
The Apostle Paul said that God’s mystery had finally been revealed. What was it? “Christ in
you, the hope of glory.” Jesus was called Immanuel because His death allowed for the Spirit
of God to indwell every individual who lives by faith in Jesus Christ. This manifestation of God
in us is our hope for a future glory and eternity with Christ!
God. God was never again with His people in the way that He had been with them in Eden
– walking and talking with them. Certain individuals experienced the closeness of God, such
as Moses, Abraham and David, but the nearness and intimacy offered in Eden was no more.
When Abraham entered the Tent of Meeting, they stood at the entrances of their homes.
When the Tabernacle was constructed, only the high priest was allowed entrance into the
Holy of Holies, and even then only once a year! The Tabernacle was constructed in the
wilderness that God could come down in the presence of the people for them to worship, but
the people always remained at a distance. But the work of this Child on the cross married
the Spirit of God to the people once and for all! At the moment of Jesus’ death the Temple
curtain was ripped in two, signifying that God was no longer going to live separately from
His people. The Child of the prophecy was the Son of God who made a way for us to reunite
with Mighty God!
The Apostle Paul said that God’s mystery had finally been revealed. What was it? “Christ in
you, the hope of glory.” Jesus was called Immanuel because His death allowed for the Spirit
of God to indwell every individual who lives by faith in Jesus Christ. This manifestation of God
in us is our hope for a future glory and eternity with Christ!
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Ask God to reveal to you areas in your life where you are pursuing other things instead ofhim (friends, food, entertainment, recreation, career, etc). Confess as necessary.
2. Are you ready to keep pursuing God on your own? Now that you are finished these thirty
devotionals, what is the next step for you devotionally?
3. Thank God that He has designed you to get fulfillment in your personal relationship
with Him, that He intends for you to experience the joy of walking with Him through every
circumstance.
