Walking with Jesus
God With Us—and Living in Us
Pastor Calvin Cook
August 31, 2026
Scripture: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” — John 1:14
As I pause in my time of devotion I am spending some time just emptying myself to consider the presences and the direction of God through the power of the Father revealed to all of creation, the love of Jesus my rescuer, my Savior, the one who offers the gift of salvation, and the Holy Spirit, my advocate, my guidance, my nagging director of life who creating a God who is with us.
The Gospel of John tells us that the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. God did not remain distant. He came near to us in Jesus Christ. Jesus walked our roads, entered our suffering, shared our humanity, and showed us what God is like.
Walking with Jesus helps us realize the wonderful truth of God with us. But where is the dwelling place of God today?
Scripture teaches us that through the Holy Spirit, God now dwells within those who belong to Jesus. We are not merely people who visit God at church on Sunday. We are His dwelling place. His presence goes with us into our homes, workplaces, relationships, struggles, and everyday decisions.
That truth causes me to ask a difficult question: Do I live as though God is living within me? Do my words sound like something spoken by a person in whom God dwells? Do my actions demonstrate His grace and truth? Do I treat others as Jesus would treat them? Can people see something of God’s love, mercy, holiness, and compassion through the way I live?
Following Jesus does not mean that every day will be easy. There will be joy, but there will also be sorrow. There will be health and pain, life and death, poverty and prosperity, hope and moments of desperation. Faith does not shield us from every hardship of life.
But through all of it, God is with us.
When we rejoice, God is with us. When our hearts are broken, God is with us. When we have more than enough and when we do not know how our needs will be met, God is with us. Even when we cannot feel His presence, His promise remains true.
Our commitment to God is not based upon everything going the way we hoped. It is based upon trusting that the God who came to dwell among us in Jesus now makes His home within us through the Holy Spirit.
Today, let us live with a greater awareness of His presence. Let us walk, speak, love, forgive, serve, and face whatever comes as people who know this unchanging truth:
God is with us. God is at work within us. And wherever Jesus leads us, we will never walk alone.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for coming near and revealing the heart of God to us. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, and help us live as people in whom You dwell. Through every joy and sorrow, remind us that You are with us. May others recognize Your grace and truth through the way we live. Amen.
Thoughts from the Edges 
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