Matthew 28:20b - Christ Our Constant Companion!
Matthew 28:20b: Christ Our Constant Companion!
Matthew 28:20b (NIRV) And you can be sure that I am always with
you, to the very end.
COMMENTARY PEARL
If someone were to ask you what the greatest moment of your
life has been, you might think of some great or exciting event. You
might think of the day you were married or the birth of a child or
graduating from college or the day you became aware of God. I would like to
suggest that although these were great moments, they were not the
greatest, because the greatest moment of your life is the present moment.
This moment is where God is. He is the great "I Am."
We often live in the past or the future in our thinking, but
I have discovered over the years that I miss most of my life if I
don't devote myself to the present. I may go through the motions of
the day, but I don't truly live it if I don't devote myself to what
I am currently doing.
God is with us always. There is never one moment in our lives
that He is not present, and yet we often feel alone. Don't waste your
life looking for something that you already have. God is with you
right now! Believe it and start to enjoy each moment. The present
moment may not be perfect - it may even be painful - but recognizing
that God is present with you will comfort and encourage you. It will
strengthen you to do what needs to be done and go through the day with
courage.
Discovering God in the smallest details of your life is
perhaps the greatest and most blessed thing you will ever do. It makes
every moment that you live amazing and filled with wonder. You don't
need to search for God any longer... He is in this moment!
Father, I am sorry that I have missed so many moments with
You, but I ask You to help me live every moment that I have left in
Your presence. Let me make every moment a special one, and help me
always remember that You are with me always and You will never leave
me! [My Time with God by Joyce Meyer]
COMMENTARY
Close your eyes (after you've finished reading this, of
course). Picture Jesus sitting in front of you - His eyes looking gently
into yours, His smile as encouraging and patient as you need it to
be, His posture calm and unassuming. Hold this image on the screen
of your mind as long as you'd like to. Then open your eyes and ask
yourself, Was that an escape from reality or an escape into it?
That's just my imagination, you might think. It wasn't real.
But consider this question: When are you closer to reality - when
you're holding a picture of Jesus' Presence in your mind, or when you
are going about your day, forgetting that He is with you? Never mind
whether you got the details of His face right; that isn't the point. The
point is that when you picture Him with you, you're holding on to
biblical truth. And when you're busy and bogged down in the details of
life without consciously thinking about Him, you've forgotten what's
true. Your sanctified "imagination" is more in touch with reality than
your preoccupied mind is.
You'll find that if you do this enough - if you get familiar
enough with this Jesus - He will probably speak to you at some point.
Those words, if consistent with Scripture, can be very real too. Sure,
you'll want to measure them against His written Word and avoid making
major decisions based solely on the voice you hear, but you can
certainly hear His encouragement and love anytime you need to. He has
promised to speak (John 16:13), and He has promised to be with you to the
end of the age. Assuming and envisioning the truth of these words is
the privilege of any child of His.
Thank you, Jesus, for being with me. Help me see You more
clearly, hear You more certainly, and trust You more fully - in every
moment of my life. [The One Year Experiencing Gods Presence
Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]
John Hyde, the famous missionary to India known for his
radical life of prayer, used to speak of his conversations with God as
one would speak of conversations with any other person. He once came
to a meeting claiming that he had been arguing with God the night
before about whether to share some of God's dealings with him. On
another occasion, he heard the lunch bell ring while he was in the
prayer room and asked, "Father, is it Your will that I go?" After a
moment of silence, he said, "Thank you," and rose to leave. He
continued to converse with people while acknowledging often that God was
very much a part of the conversation. The presence of God always
seemed to him to be a tangible reality.
Many considered Hyde to be a little odd. Yet, in light of
God's many promises never to leave us, Hyde seems to have been more in
touch with reality than most of us are. We often have conversations
about the subject of God, or His will, with little awareness that He
is in the room. But not only is He in the room, He's in the hearts
of those who believe in Jesus as their Savior. This may seem like
an abstract principle to those who haven't cultivated a deeply
personal relationship with God, but in fact the Spirit of our highly
relational God is always available for conversation. He may not always stay
on the topics we want to discuss, but He will commune with us in
the depths of our spirits. He invites us to explore our fellowship
with Him from every angle and at every level of our lives. He is with
us not just to watch silently; He is actively with us to be deeply
involved in our lives.
Jesus, You are with me even as I read this, even as I pray
this prayer, and even as I think about all the truths You have
revealed. My circumstances, my relationships, and my thoughts are all in
plain sight to You. Teach me how to be a good conversationalist with
You in every area of life. [The One Year Hearing His Voice
Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]
As a pastor, my heart is broken daily when I see God's people
carrying heavy burdens and living under negative circumstances. After
listening to their stories, I try to encourage them to stand firm in their
faith and let Jesus help carry their burdens. They smile and nod, but
I can see that too often they don't know where to start.
When this happens, I often share with them what I have
learned from my own experience. I take a chapter of Scripture - for me,
it is Psalm 119 - and then I begin by praying that Scripture back
to the Lord as an act of worship. As I thank him for who he is and
what he does, my belief in his promises and loving care are
reaffirmed to my heart.
After we finish reading the Scripture, we continue to worship
by thanking God for helping us, giving us his Word, walking with us
through our circumstances, and helping us to carry our burdens. As we
extol his greatness and thank him for the wisdom and knowledge he
gives us each day, his peace flows over us.
The Bible is filled with praise for the Most High God. So
let's dig in like hungry men and women who find themselves enjoying a
great feast. Circumstances change and burdens become lighter as we
feed on God's Word,
Heavenly Father, as I worship you, I believe that my
confidence in your goodness will increase, and I will find rest and comfort
in my time of need. In Jesus' name, Amen. [The Daniel Plan 365-Day
Devotional re Mat. 28:20]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
I am with you always. These were the last words I spoke
before ascending into heaven. I continue to proclaim this promise to
all who will listen. People respond to My continual Presence in
various ways. Most Christians accept this teaching as truth but ignore
it in their daily living. Some ill-taught or wounded believers fear
(and may even resent) My awareness of all they do, say, and think. A
few people center their lives around this glorious promise and find
themselves blessed beyond all expectations.
When My Presence is the focal point of your consciousness,
all the pieces of your life fall into place. As you gaze at Me
through the eyes of your heart, you can see the world around you from My
perspective. The fact that I am with you makes every moment of your life
meaningful. (Mat. 28:20; Psa. 139:1-4) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
I am with you and for you, your constant Companion and
Provider. The question is whether you are with Me and for Me. Though I
never leave you, you can essentially, "leave" Me by ignoring Me:
thinking or acting as if I am not with you. When you feel distance in our
relationship, you know where the problem lies. My Love for you is constant; I
am the same yesterday, today, and forever. It is you who change
like shifting sand, letting circumstances toss you this way and that.
When you feel far from Me, whisper My Name. This simple act,
done in childlike faith, opens your heart to My Presence. Speak to Me
in love-tones; prepare to receive My Love, which flows eternally
from the cross. I am delighted when you open yourself to My loving
Presence. (Gen. 28:15; Rom. 8:31; Heb. 13:8) [Jesus Calling by Sarah
Young]
I am always available to you. Once you have trusted Me as your
Savior, I never distance Myself from you. Sometimes you may feel distant
from Me. Recognize that as feeling; do not confuse it with reality.
The Bible is full of My promises to be with you always. As I assured
Jacob, when he was journeying away from home into unknown places, I am
with you and will watch over you wherever you go. My last recorded
promise to My followers was: Surely I am with you always, to the very
end of the age. Let these assurances of My continual Presence fill
you with Joy and Peace. No matter what you may lose in this life,
you can never lose your relationship with Me. (Isaiah 54:10; Genesis
28:15; Matthew 28:20) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
Try to stay conscious of Me as you go step by step through
this day. My Presence with you is both a promise and a protection. My
final statement just before I ascended into heaven was: Surely I am
with you always. That promise was for all of My followers, without
exception.
The promise of My Presence is a powerful protection. As you
journey through your life, there are numerous pitfalls along the way.
Many voices clamor for your attention, enticing you to go their way.
A few steps away from your true path are pits of self-pity and
despair, plateaus of pride and self-will. If you take your eyes off Me
and follow another's way, you are in grave danger. Even well-meaning
friends can lead you astray if you let them usurp My place in your life.
The way to stay on the path of Life is to keep your focus on Me.
Awareness of My Presence is your best protection. (Mat. 28:20; Heb. 12:1,
2) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
I am Immanuel - God with you - and I am enough! When things
in your life are flowing smoothly, it is easy to trust in My
sufficiency. However, when you encounter rough patches - one after another
after another - you may sometimes feel that My provision is
inadequate. This is when your mind tends to go into high gear: obsessing
about ways to make things better. There is nothing wrong with seeking
solutions, but problem-solving can turn into an addiction: your mind
spinning with so many plans and possibilities that you become confused
and exhausted.
To protect yourself from this mental exhaustion, you need to
remind yourself that I am with you always, taking care of you. It is
possible to rejoice in Me - to proclaim My sufficiency - even during the
most difficult times. This is a supernatural work, empowered by My
Spirit who lives in you. It is also a decision that you make - day by
day and moment by moment. Choose to be joyful in Me, your Savior,
for I am indeed enough! (Mat. 1:21-23; 28:20; Hab. 3:17, 18) [Jesus
Today by Sarah Young]
MORE PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Whenever you look for Me, you will find Me. My promise to be
with you always ensures that you never have to face anything alone.
This promise is for everyone who has trusted Me as Savior. However,
to reap the benefits of this amazing blessing, you must look for Me
in the midst of your moments. This sounds like an easy thing to do,
but it goes against the grain of the world, the flesh, and the
devil.
The evil one uses three Ds to keep you from finding Me:
distractions, deception, and discouragement. The world abounds with things to
distract you from Me, so don't be upset when you realize your mind has
wandered. Just return to Me with a smile, and whisper My Name in loving
contentment. Deception is one of Satan's favorite tactics, from the time of
Adam and Eve onward. The best defense against the devil's deceptions
is to study and absorb My Word. Discouragement knocks at the door
of every human heart at times, but you can refuse to let it in. As
you resist these tricky tactics and look for Me, you will find Me.
[Azariah] went out to meet King Asa as he was returning from
battle. "Listen to me, Asa! Listen, armies of Judah and Benjamin!" he
shouted. "The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him! (2Ch.
15:2; Mat. 28:19, 20; Gen. 3:13) [Jesus Today by Sarah Young]
Christian hope is strongly linked to my Presence - which is
with you now and throughout eternity. So the more aware you are of My
Presence, the more hopeful you will feel. Even though you believe that I
am with you always, there may be times when you feel distant from
Me. This diminishes your hopefulness.
Do not hesitate to ask for My help. For instance, you can
simply pray, "Jesus, keep me aware of You." This prayer is so short and
simple that you can use it as often as needed. Sometimes you limp
through a day feeling empty and alone. But I say to you at such times,
You do not have because you do not ask.
Hoping in Me is the most realistic way to live because of who
I am. Since I am the Creator and Sustainer of the universe,
nothing can thwart My promises. As you marvel at how great, glorious,
and trustworthy I am, your praises will fill you with hope - and
with rich awareness of My Presence. (Psa. 42:5; Mat. 28:19, 20; Jam.
4:2) [Jesus Today by Sarah Young]
Thank Me throughout this day for My Presence and My Peace.
These are gifts of supernatural proportions. Ever since the
resurrection, I have comforted My followers with these messages: Peace be with
you, and I am with you always. Listen as I offer you My Peace and
Presence in full measure. The best way to receive these glorious gifts is
to thank Me for them.
It is impossible to spend too much time thanking and praising
Me. I created you first and foremost to glorify Me. Thanksgiving and
praise put you in proper relationship with Me, opening the way for My
riches to flow into you. As you thank Me for My Presence and Peace, you
appropriate My richest gifts. (Luk. 24:36; Mat. 28:20; Heb. 13:15) [Jesus
Calling by Sarah Young]
CLOSING THOUGHT
Wait a minute. Did Jesus really mean what He said? "I am with
you always." Could He have possibly said it more clearly? The simple
declarative sentence tells who ("I" = Jesus speaking), when ("am" = a
statement of fact, right now), what ("with you"), and for how long
("always" - there is never a time that isn't part of always). Read it
again. This isn't a promise of "I will be with you always" sometime in
the future. Nor is it a conditional promise: If you do this, then I
will be with you always. It is simply a statement of fact now. "I am
with you always? And if you read the rest of what Jesus said in that
same breath, you learn that He reemphasizes or clarifies just how
long His promise lasts. "I am with you always, to the very end of the
age." Did you get that - to the very end. But wait, there is more. The
preface to the statement is an assurance of the reality of the words
that follow: "And surely." It is as if Jesus is saying, "You can
believe this. Don't forget this. Pay attention now," The opening lets
you know that what is to follow is important.
So the question I have to ask myself is: "Why don't I live my
life, 24/7, as if I actually believe this?" Every day I do things that
show my wife, my family, my community, that I simply don't believe.
For example, there was the time - lots of times, actually -
that I was rude to my wife. I wouldn't have done that if my neighbor
had been with me. And my Constant Companion has specifically asked
me to love this woman - for Him. So why was I rude while He was
there watching? What about the time I watched a movie on TV that I
wouldn't want my own children seeing? Would I have kept watching knowing
that Jesus was there at my side? Or when I didn't respond to the
obvious need of the ashen-faced homeless guy who crossed my path? Would
Jesus have made eye contact with him, looking on him with compassion,
and at least touched him tenderly instead of avoiding eye contact
and passing him by, as I did? One time I went out to eat with
friends and simply ate way too much and spent all the time talking about
my latest vacation and all the features of my next dream purchase.
I can't believe that I didn't even introduce the Constant
Companion at my side and talk about what He has done in my life. See what
I mean? My life is evidence that I don't believe that simplest of
declarative statements: "I am with you always?
Constant companion, forgive me for my unbelief. I choose now
to believe. Help my unbelief. [God of Wonders by David Steen]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2007/20070621-1345.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Musical Devotional On Christian Living:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/
ABible.com: http://www.aBible.com
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Restoring The Power by John Bradshaw:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRogO1SxoZN15Boa7BMon4BouVMdteVaq
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
Last Day Prophecy: His Other Sheep by Pastor Gerald Babanezhad:
https://vimeo.com/162267518
