We’re the body of Christ. And the purpose of all of this is to make real to your heart and my heart the presence of the Lord Jesus. Today, did you start out with Him? As you rushed in on the freeway or wherever you rushed to today, did He go with you? Was He with you today? You can worship Him on the freeway. You can worship Him in the office. You can worship Him in the classroom. Friends, you can worship Him anywhere. I don’t care where you are, you can worship Him. And this is something that, oh, is so needed today. That you and I pour out our hearts in adoration and praise unto His holy name.

Worship actually comes from the same root word of worth. They are worthy to receive adoration and praise. That’s worship. And the Lord Jesus Christ is worthy to receive our praise and our adorations. And then, service follows from that. You remember when the Lord Jesus answered Satan, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve. You don’t have to beg and coax and goad people into doing something if they are participating in real worship of Christ, because real worship leads to service.

For those of you listening in today, many of you lonesome. Many of you, no peace in your heart at all. Why not at this Christmas time come to Him and receive the gift of giftsGod’s unspeakable giftthe One who came wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manager in a stable at Bethlehem? Why not trust Him? You may be here, homesick, lonesome, disturbed. I don’t know what your state, but He knows you today. He loves you today. What value He’s put upon you. He died for you that He might take you home with Him. Would you accept His invitation today? The gift of God’s eternal life in Christ Jesus.

Here’s one of the most beautiful pictures you have in the Scripture. The Lord Jesus came to this earth, and He grew to manhood. At 30 years of age, He began His ministry. And He could come to the end of that ministry and say, Which of you convicteth Me of sin? He was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners. He could have stepped off this earth any day that He wanted to, back to heaven, and left this earth in sin. And left you and me in the slavery of sin. But you see, He said, I loveI love those sinners. And God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son.

My friend, I’d like for you to see the reality of Christand when you do, all of these things will drop into their correct place. You don’t need to worry about that. Because if you’re walking in the light of His presence, you’re going to walk with Him down the street, and if you go into a bar room, He’s going to have to go in with you. And there’ll be a lot of places that you’re going to stop and consider. And you’re going to stop and consider your conduct if you’re conscious of the presence of Jesus Christ with you all the time. He is the Living Intercessor today, friend. He’s alive.

My little born ones, these things write I unto you that you sin not, but if any man sinsnow you’re getting somewherewe have an advocatewe have a paraclete, we have a comforter, we have somebody to stand at our side. We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous one. And everything He does is right up there. Everything He does is righteous. And, may I say, we shall be saved by His life. And how wonderful to know that we have a Living Christ today. You’re not alone, friend. And though we are faithless, He’s always faithful to us. And it’s wonderful to know that He’s up there for us, friends.

He died down here to save us, but He lives up there to keep us saved. He’s able to keep on saving us, too, by the way. And He saves to the uttermost. Now that means all the way throughthat means He’s able to save us completely and perfectly. When He undertakes a job, well, He is the Great Shepherd that up to right this moment has never lost a sheep. And you want to know something, He’s never going to lose one. And if you’re one of His sheep, you may feel like you’re going to be lost, but if you’re His sheep, He’s up there for you and He’s watching over you.

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. It says that Christ is not dead, but He’s living. Right now, this very moment, He’s alive. He’s up there to make intercession for us. And we have the emphasis upon the death and resurrection of Christ, but we ought to go on from there, you see, and we ought to have to do today with the living Christ. And, friends, that’s where we need to put the emphasis today. He died down here to save us, but He lives up there to keep us saved. He’s able to keep on saving us, too, by the way.

The Lord Jesus Christ is a great High Priest, and He ministers to us today. And, friends, I want to be very frank with you. If He doesn’t minister to you and doesn’t bless your heart and life, it’s because you’re still a little babe and you haven’t grown up. And you haven’t entered into this great truth that is here. How about it, Christian friend? Have you gone through trials? Deep waters? And then has Jesus ministered to you? Has He helped you? Are you conscious of the fact that He blesses you every day? May I say to you, the Living Christ, yonder at God’s right hand, how real is He to you today, friends?

But I keep under my body that I might not be rejected or cast out, but that I might be disapproved. Paul says, When I come into His presence, I don’t want to be disapproved. I don’t want the Lord Jesus to say to me, You failed Me. Your life should have been a testimony; it’s not!’ And friends, you’re going to hear it if you don’t live for Him. Now somebody needs to say that, and I know that’s not popular. But, my friend, you’re going to stand before Him someday. And thank God, Paul could say when he came to the end of his life: I finished my course. I have kept the faith. I know there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness. Oh, to live for God today.