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GREAT ADVENTURE FELLOWSHIP
Jeremiah 29:11
(KJV): “For I know
the thoughts that I
think toward you,
thoughts of peace, and
not of evil, to give you
an expected end.”
(KJV): “For I know
the thoughts that I
think toward you,
thoughts of peace, and
not of evil, to give you
an expected end.”
He Loves to Be with the Ones He Loves by Max Lucado
Holiday travel. It isn't easy. Then why do we do it? Why cram the trunks and
endure the airports? You know the answer. We love to be with the ones we love.
The four-year-old running up the sidewalk into the arms of Grandpa. The cup of
coffee with Mom before the rest of the house awakes. That moment when, for a
moment, everyone is quiet as we hold hands around the table and thank God for
family and friends and pumpkin pie. We love to be with the ones we love. May I
remind you? So does God. He loves to be with the ones he loves. How else do
you explain what he did? Between him and us there was a distance--a great
span. And he couldn't bear it. He couldn't stand it. So he did something about it.
Before coming to the earth, "Christ himself was like God in every-thing.... But he
gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born to be a man
and became like a servant" (Phil. 2:6--7 NCV). Why? Why did Jesus travel so
far? I was asking myself that question when I spotted the squirrels outside my
window. A family of black-tailed squirrels has made its home amid the roots of
the tree north of my office. We've been neighbors for three years now. They
watch me peck the keyboard. I watch them store their nuts and climb the trunk.
We're mutually amused. I could watch them all day. Sometimes I do. But I've
never considered becoming one of them. The squirrel world holds no appeal to
me. Who wants to sleep next to a hairy rodent with beady eyes? (No comments
from you wives who feel you already do.) Give up the Rocky Mountains, bass
fishing, weddings, and laughter for a hole in the ground and a diet of dirty nuts?
Count me out. But count Jesus in. What a world he left. Our classiest mansion
would be a tree trunk to him. Earth's finest cuisine would be walnuts on
heaven's table. And the idea of becoming a squirrel with claws and tiny teeth
and a furry tail? It's nothing compared to God becoming a one-celled embryo
and entering the womb of Mary. But he did. The God of the universe kicked
against the wall of a womb, was born into the poverty of a peasant, and spent
his first night in the feed trough of a cow. "The Word became flesh and lived
among us" (John 1:14 NRSV). The God of the universe left the glory of heaven
and moved into the neighborhood. Our neighborhood! Who could have
imagined he would do such a thing. Why? He loves to be with the ones he loves
Holiday travel. It isn't easy. Then why do we do it? Why cram the trunks and
endure the airports? You know the answer. We love to be with the ones we love.
The four-year-old running up the sidewalk into the arms of Grandpa. The cup of
coffee with Mom before the rest of the house awakes. That moment when, for a
moment, everyone is quiet as we hold hands around the table and thank God for
family and friends and pumpkin pie. We love to be with the ones we love. May I
remind you? So does God. He loves to be with the ones he loves. How else do
you explain what he did? Between him and us there was a distance--a great
span. And he couldn't bear it. He couldn't stand it. So he did something about it.
Before coming to the earth, "Christ himself was like God in every-thing.... But he
gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born to be a man
and became like a servant" (Phil. 2:6--7 NCV). Why? Why did Jesus travel so
far? I was asking myself that question when I spotted the squirrels outside my
window. A family of black-tailed squirrels has made its home amid the roots of
the tree north of my office. We've been neighbors for three years now. They
watch me peck the keyboard. I watch them store their nuts and climb the trunk.
We're mutually amused. I could watch them all day. Sometimes I do. But I've
never considered becoming one of them. The squirrel world holds no appeal to
me. Who wants to sleep next to a hairy rodent with beady eyes? (No comments
from you wives who feel you already do.) Give up the Rocky Mountains, bass
fishing, weddings, and laughter for a hole in the ground and a diet of dirty nuts?
Count me out. But count Jesus in. What a world he left. Our classiest mansion
would be a tree trunk to him. Earth's finest cuisine would be walnuts on
heaven's table. And the idea of becoming a squirrel with claws and tiny teeth
and a furry tail? It's nothing compared to God becoming a one-celled embryo
and entering the womb of Mary. But he did. The God of the universe kicked
against the wall of a womb, was born into the poverty of a peasant, and spent
his first night in the feed trough of a cow. "The Word became flesh and lived
among us" (John 1:14 NRSV). The God of the universe left the glory of heaven
and moved into the neighborhood. Our neighborhood! Who could have
imagined he would do such a thing. Why? He loves to be with the ones he loves
What has God done
for you lately?
Share it with us.
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for you lately?
Share it with us.
Contact Lori