WITH Devotional ................................................................................................................. 21

DEvotional page 2

From this burning core rise three great WITHs.

God with us. Sin split the with between God and humanity. But at the heart of the gospel is God drawing near again. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. On earth, this Immanuel chose disciples “that they might be with Him…” (Mark 3:14) Later, their opponents marveled at the result. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John… they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). Jesus’ final words to His followers promised this presence was permanent. “…Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).

Us with one another. God’s presence with His people spring naturally into fellowship among His people. It is gathered prayers and worship, grief and delight carried together, common meals, shared sacrifices, mutual care (John 13:35, Acts 2:42). Our hearts long for this. The greatest stories — from The Fellowship of the Rings to Little Women — glow with this kind of devoted togetherness. It is what we were made for. Even when it is difficult, to live truly with one another is among life’s sweetest gifts.

God’s people with those in need. These first two withs rise into a third. God entered our space and pain, and now invites us to do likewise for others. The prime verb in James 1:27 shimmers with this with-ness. “To care for” (episkeptesthai) orphans and widows carries no hint of sending aid from a safe distance. Rather, it suggests showing up, drawing near, hazarding deep personal involvement. It takes the hand of a woman who has just lost her son. Holds the drug addicted newborn all night. It welcomes into our church and home and heart the parents whose children were removed by CPS. When God’s people demonstrate with like this, a pure and undefiled reflection of God-with-us is set before the world.

This with is at the heart of all we experience together here in Cincinnati, side-by-side.

Together, we laud the God who is with His people.

Together, we take joy in being again with one another.

Together, we each both give and receive, learning how to most fully be with the hurting in ways that effectively heal and wisely restore.

Following a year marked by so much separation and distance, to be gathered here together is a precious with indeed.