Men's Ministry Blog

For the past couple of Sundays, Pastor Cliff has been preaching about abiding in God's presence. He used Matthew 1:23 to reference the prophecy of Christ's birth when it was proclaimed "and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." In his preaching he mentioned that although the holidays are a time for family, a time for celebration and a time of great joy, it can also be a time of great sorrow. My wife, for example, has enjoyed having our children over for Christmas, but at the same time, she has struggled these past days as Christmas is the anniversary of her mother's passing, just last year. Christmas this year is not the same without her. I am sure there are many others who have similar sorrows over the holidays and it is only natural to wonder why. As Pastor Cliff has said, sometimes there can be no answer found in this life.

I recently came across a wonderful truth while reading Ken Sande's book, The Peace Maker. In Deuteronomy 29:29 it says, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and our children forever, that we may follow the words of this law."

About this passage Ken Sande wrote, "This passage provides the key to dealing faithfully with painful and unjust situations. God may not tell us everything we want to know about the painful event of life, but he has already told us all we need to know." Sande later continues with "As we trust God with the "secret things", remember all He has already done for us through Christ, and focus our attention on obeying his revealed will, we will experience greater peace within ourselves (Psalm 131; Isaiah 26:3) and be enabled to serve him more effectively as peacemakers (Proverbs 3:5-7)."

As a Christian, I am hopeful that we can say with J.I. Packer:

I know Him, because He first knew me, and continues to know me. He knows me as a friend, one who loves me, and there is no moment when His eye is off me, or His attention distracted from me, and no moment therefore, when His care falters. This is momentous knowledge. There is unspeakable comfort ... in knowing that God is constantly taking knowledge of me in love, and watching over me for my good.

In other words, "Immanuel, God is With Us". I hope you find comfort in His truth.