The Gift of With: Jesus Dwells With Us

Devotional

Day 1: The gift of God coming to be with us.

John chapter one explains that God did not remain distant but entered creation as light and life; the Word became flesh, lived among people, and offered the invitation to receive him and become children of God—this is the gift of "with," God dwelling with us in ordinary moments and rescuing us from darkness. [34:06]

John 1:9-14 (ESV)
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Reflection: Choose one ordinary moment today (making coffee, driving, preparing a meal, bedtime); for five uninterrupted minutes in that moment, speak aloud “Jesus, be with me” and listen—what, if anything, did you notice differently about your heart or your day?

Day 2: God's light shines into our darkness.

The promise of Isaiah reminds that people living in deep darkness are met by a great light; this light exposes that human solutions fail and points to the One who must come from outside our brokenness to bring understanding, hope, and rescue. [35:36]

Isaiah 9:2 (ESV)
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

Reflection: Name one specific area of fear, confusion, or loneliness you carry right now; before the end of today, read Isaiah 9:2, pray aloud asking God to shine his light there, and then text one trusted person asking them to pray for you about that exact issue.

Day 3: Human beings created for relationship and community.

From the start God made humanity in his image and in community—God’s own Trinitarian nature shows that people are built for relationship with God and with one another, not isolation; the quality of life is tied to the quality of those relationships, and they require intentional presence. [36:04]

Genesis 1:26-27 (ESV)
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Reflection: Who in your life needs your presence this week? Pick one person and schedule a 30-minute "with" time (coffee, walk, meal) on your calendar right now—what day and time will you commit to?

Day 4: Sin broke relationships with God and others.

Genesis 3 shows how the fall fractured humanity’s fellowship with God, with each other, and with creation—people chose autonomy over relationship, resulting in shame, hiding, and distance that only God's redeeming presence can begin to restore. [38:07]

Genesis 3:1-10 (ESV)
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Reflection: Is there someone you have distanced yourself from because of pride, fear, or anger? Today, send one honest message asking to talk or meet—take this single step toward reconciliation and pray for courage before you send it.

Day 5: Evidence of God's children is righteous love.

1 John makes clear that being created by God is not the same as being his child; those who have received Christ bear the marks of a new life—practicing righteousness and showing unnatural, sacrificial love for others as visible fruit of adoption. [46:25]

1 John 3:10 (ESV)
By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Reflection: Identify one person you find difficult to love; today, do one concrete loving act toward them (send an encouraging message, pray for them and tell them you prayed, offer practical help) and ask God to change your heart as you do it.

Sermon Summary

It’s Christmas time, and while gifts and lists are fun, what our souls really ache for is not more stuff but more presence. The older I get, the clearer it becomes: the quality of life is tied to the quality of relationships. John 1 tells a better story than more noise and hustle—the True Light has entered our darkness. Darkness in Scripture means both evil (a world not as God designed) and ignorance (we don’t know the way out). The cure doesn’t come from inside us; it comes from God stepping into our world. The Word became flesh and moved into the neighborhood. God didn’t save from a distance. He came near. He is with us.

We often miss Him because He comes in ordinary ways. Israel didn’t recognize Jesus because He arrived in a manger and took time. We miss Him because Monday mornings feel too mundane to expect the Presence. But to those who receive Him, He gives not simply a ticket to heaven—He gives the right to become children of God. That isn’t a sentimental label; it’s adoption. Children have access, a seat at the table, a room in the house, inheritance, and the freedom to come at any time. Not everyone is a child of God; those who believe and receive Him are, and the evidence shows up as a growing, unnatural love for others.

So Advent is a call to receive the gift of “with”—God with us—and then to give the gift of “with” to others. Church isn’t an event you attend; it’s a family you belong to. Engage. Disciple. Be present. There’s a difference between being around people and being with people. A child’s drawing of Dad on the bench on his phone stings because it’s true: proximity is not presence. Relationships don’t deepen accidentally; they grow through intentional presence. It’s not too late to reconnect, to sit with God without rushing, to look someone in the eyes and say, “I’m here.” If you’re sensing the Light breaking into your darkness, receive Him. He delights to make you His son or daughter and to lead you into a family where no one walks alone.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s perfect gift is “with.” God did not save from afar; He became flesh and moved in. Advent is an invitation to stop treating God like a concept and receive Him as a Presence in ordinary life. We are called not only to receive “with,” but also to give it to others in tangible, time-costly ways. [33:32]
2. Light enters our real darkness. Scripture names darkness as both evil and ignorance; we are broken and we cannot fix ourselves. The solution is not human insight but divine intrusion—the True Light comes from outside the system to heal it. The incarnation is God’s answer to what we cannot solve. [40:25]
3. Adoption as children is the gift. John says the gift is not merely heaven, but a new status: children of God with access, intimacy, and inheritance. Children don’t knock at the door; they come to the Father freely, and their lives begin to look like the family they belong to. Adoption reframes salvation as relationship, not transaction. [45:00]
4. Choose presence over mere proximity. Being around people isn’t the same as being with them; love pays attention. Presence costs us hurry, distraction, and control, but it births the kind of joy we can’t buy. Put the phone down, look up, and let love interrupt your schedule. [56:03]
5. Expect God in the ordinary. We miss God because we expect fireworks and overlook the manger. He delights to meet us in kitchens, commutes, and Tuesday evenings. If we expect Him there—and make space to notice—we will find Emmanuel present in the simple and the slow. [43:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:22] - Season kickoff and greeting
[28:35] - Giving and receiving: John 1
[28:59] - Nintendo Christmas story
[33:12] - The perfect gift: God with us
[35:05] - Light in our darkness
[36:04] - Created for God and community
[41:29] - God comes to us—incarnation
[42:49] - Expect God in the ordinary
[45:00] - Adoption: children of God
[52:21] - Church family: give the gift of “with”
[55:35] - Present vs distracted—Ellie’s drawing
[56:34] - Response: engage God and others
[59:30] - Closing prayer and sending
[66:26] - Next week preview and dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 1:9-14 — The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Observation Questions

Which words or phrases in John 1:9–14 highlight both the problem (darkness, not knowing) and the solution (light, dwelling among us)? What stands out to you when you read these verses?
In verse 11 John says “his own people did not receive him,” then in verse 12 he speaks of those who did receive him. What differences does John point to between not receiving and receiving?
The preacher said people missed Jesus because He arrived in ordinary ways and because it “took a while.” Where in the sermon did he explain that, and what examples did he use? [42:49]
The preacher showed a child’s drawing of dad on a bench looking at his phone. What point was he making about presence versus proximity? [55:35]

Interpretation Questions

What does the phrase “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” imply about God’s posture toward human brokenness and need? [41:55]
How should the promise “he gave the right to become children of God” change a believer’s understanding of access to God, security, and everyday life priorities? [45:00]
The sermon described “darkness” as both evil (things out of God’s design) and ignorance (not knowing the way out). How does this twofold definition shape how the church thinks about mission and ministry to others? [40:25]
According to the sermon, what are the main obstacles that keep people from giving the gift of “with” to their family and church (e.g., hurry, distraction, busyness)? [56:03]

Application Questions

Name one person in your life you are often near but not truly with (family member, roommate, coworker). What is one concrete 30-minute step you will take this week to give them the gift of your presence? [56:03]
Pick one ordinary part of your week (commute, making dinner, bedtime routine). How can you expect and practice God’s presence there this week (a short prayer, a moment of silence, reading one verse)? When will you do it? [43:25]
If you are not yet a follower who has “received” Jesus, what would be the specific next step you need to take to receive him (talk to a pastor, pray a prayer of trust, meet with someone)? Would you like to talk with a pastor after the group? [58:24]
Identify one strained relationship you would like to restore. What is a specific first move you will make in the next 48 hours (call, text to meet, apology, ask to pray together)? [57:36]
What single distraction most often steals your presence (phone, email, news, work)? Name one simple boundary you will set this week (phone off at meals, no email after 8 pm). When will you start? [56:03]
Who in the church could you intentionally “be with” this Advent season (a student, new family, widow/widower)? What practical step will you take this month to include them (invite to a meal, sit with them, offer to babysit, check in weekly)? [53:58]

Sermon Clips

``The quality of your life is directly connected to the quality of the relationships in your life. And so today, I want to talk about the perfect gift. And I'm going to give you the whole main idea of the message right here at the front, and that's this. The perfect gift is, yeah, I knew y'all would be Baptists, like Jesus. It's the right answer when we're in church. That is correct, but I want to get more specific. It's not just Jesus, it is, hang with me. It's the fact that Jesus, God is not a distant God. God is a God who is with us. The gift of with. [00:32:55] (42 seconds) #GiftOfWith

The Christmas season tells us that the cure for our problem is not found within us. We don't look to the experts or the mystics or the scholars. We need something from outside of us. So Jesus enters the scene. This is what's so incredible about what we believe as believers, as Christians. Every other religion is about attaining heaven, get to heaven, find a way to be good with God. We're the only faith where God comes to us, joins creation, steps into it to rescue us. [00:41:20] (34 seconds) #GodComesToUs

There it is, here's the gift, if you would believe in him, if you would receive him, if you would take him at his word and say, yes, I believe you're the Savior, I believe you're the light, I confess that there's darkness in my life, I confess that I can't find my way to God, be good enough, go to church enough, know enough things, I need a Savior. And for anyone that would receive him and believe in him, he would give you a gift, the gift actually of his very own life. [00:44:05] (28 seconds) #ReceiveTheSavior

But the gift is so much more valuable. The gift is us. The gift is our relationship. The gift is love. It's all about the relationship. And you know this, too. That we can pursue success. We can pursue all these other things in life. But at the end of the day, it's all about the relationship. This is what the prodigal son's story was that Jesus told quickly. [00:50:11] (29 seconds) #LoveIsTheGift

You see, the prodigal son's story is not about the boys. It's about a father who just wanted to be with his kids. The gift that you have, and I have this Christmas season, is a God who invites you into relationship with him. Not religion. Not check the box, do your Devo on Monday morning so that we're cool. Don't you see? The gift is just to be with him. Let him speak into your life. Let him lead you. Let him encourage you. Walk with him. Know him. This is the gift he invites us into. [00:51:31] (37 seconds) #RelationshipNotReligion

And don't miss this. Because not only is this Advent season about receiving the gift of with, it's a call for us as the family of God adopted into this to be with one another. You have been called to give the gift of with. To enter in and engage with the people around you. And can I speak to the men for just a minute? Sunday mornings, First Baptist, is not just a building in a church. It's a family. It's actually an eternal family. [00:52:51] (32 seconds) #CalledToBeWith

The call is for us all in whatever capacity we can to give the gift of with as well. To engage. When Ellie was two years old, we would go on donut dates. We started this thing. I was like, man, I'm going to be a good dad. I'm going to be in her life. Worked all week, but on Fridays, I'm taking off. We're going to get donuts. And we'd get donuts and then we'd go to the park. We'd go play at the park, right? It was our thing. [00:53:58] (29 seconds) #PresenceOverBusy

There is a difference, church family, with being around and being with. There is a difference between having proximity to people around you and engaging and being loving and sharing and being involved. And so, to end this morning as the band comes back on stage and we respond, I want you to think about what does it look like for me not to be around God and know He's there but to engage with God and be near Him? [00:56:10] (40 seconds) #EngageDontJustAttend

Can I tell you good news and bad news? The bad news is quality relationships do take intentionality. Like you have to, it does take effort. It doesn't just happen but the good news is it's not too late to reach out, to reconnect, to bring your presence, to give the gift of with. [00:57:34] (24 seconds) #IntentionalRelationships

But finally, maybe there's some of you in here right now that you don't even know what it's like to have received the gift of with, God with you. That as I was speaking, you're like, man, I'm the one in darkness. I'm the one trying to do my own thing. Yeah, I know about church, I know about religion but now that you're speaking it makes sense to me that the light of Christ has shone on me. I need a relationship with God. [00:57:58] (23 seconds) #ReceiveGodsLight

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