SCRIPTURE:

“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 ‭NIV

EMMANUEL

At the top of the steps that lead into Duke Divinity Chapel are Wesley’s last words, “The best of all is God with us.”

What does this phrase mean to you? Tell me.

To me it means that no matter what we are going through, no matter what sin we have done to ourselves or others, and no matter what people think of you, God is with you and for you. There is nothing in this world that will separate you from the love of God.

If people are against you, God is with you.
If you are struggling with sin, God is with you.
If you are in your death bed, God is with you.
If you are republican, Democrat, conservative, progressive, inclusive, exclusive, racist or anti-racist, God is with you.

It’s hard for me sometimes not to be overly confident and care close to nothing what people think about me. For me, at the end of the day I have peace in Christ because of who God says I am. And I also know that no matter what I do, some people just aren’t going to be with me.

I was pulling out of the mall parking lot and saw a sign that said “I use to be cool.” I connected with that at a spiritual level. Then I began asking myself, “What is cool?” Then I began to answer myself by saying. “Having boundaries is cool. The fact that my family loves me is cool. Being honest is cool. Not being judgmental is cool. Good ideas are cool. Loving people and helping the poor is cool.”

Your clothes doesn’t make you cool, it’s your character that makes you cool. And when you have peace with God, there’s close to nothing that should shake your confidence. God is with you every step of the way. There’s nothing we can do to change that. For better or worse.

So go to sleep knowing that Goes goes before you, God is with you, and God goes ahead of you.