Date: 12-31-2020

Title: God Tabernacled With Us

(S) cripture:
    Revelation 21:1-6 (NASB) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” 5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.

    John 1:1-5 (NASB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:14-17 (NASB) And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John *testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

(O) bservation: In the Revelation passage we again see the “Incarnation” addressed. This recalled the beginning of the gospel of John for me. These passages complement each other as they show us that God became a man and lived with us and was our Savior. The emphasis (bold letters) in the scripture passages is mine.

(A) pplication:
    Today I re-read yesterdays reading because my plan concluded yesterday (day 365) because of leap year. I suppose that in the past I have just read through chapter 21 without noticing the reference to the incarnation before. It jumped out at me yesterday and as I pondered it, I thought I would focus on it today. The word. “dwelt” in John 1:14 can mean “tabernacled”. That meaning coupled with reference in Revelation 21:3 gives deeper meaning to the idea of God dwelling, living among us. Jesus was fully God and fully human. I do not fully understand that, but I know it is true. Today as I close 2020, I am strengthened and encouraged by the fact that Jesus is the Savior sent from God to pay the price for my sins so that I might have a right relationship with God. Thinking on that truth is a great way to close our 2020 and look forward to 2021.

(P) rayer:
    Father, today I am thankful that you chose to dwell among us. I am thankful that Jesus is our Savior. I am thankful that we are secure in you. I am thankful that you make all things new for me and that I am not bound by my past. Today as I walk with you let me experience the fullness of that newness. Amen