THE GOSPEL OF PRESENCE

Whenever we hear the wrod "gospel" we think of "good news". That's exactly what the gospel is - the good news that God has made a way for us to be right with Him. In fact, from the very beginning God has wanted us to have that redemption. In the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned they covered themselves with leaves but God replaced the leaves with skins. That was the beginning of the sacrificial system - the system that reminded people that there were consequences for their actions. As the individual killed the animal that was taking their place they had to watch that animal die with the understanding that had they not sinned that animal could have lived. When Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice for us all the Bible says that His sacrifice covered all sin. In Romans 5:6-8 Paul wrote, you see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. That is the crux of the gospel - we have a way out of the lives that we're living now. There is still hope through Jesus Christ. But, once that decision has been made we have a continual presence of God in us that gives us the guidance we need everyday to be the people that God called us to be. In Philippians 2:13 Paul says, it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. That presence is a part of the good news that we need to remember every day of our lives. You may feel as if you are alone in your situation today but God is with you - Dueteronomy 31: 8 says, The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. That's my message to you today. Don't forget the presence of God in you - He will not leave you or forsake you!