Hebrews 13:5 - Always There!
Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV) For He Himself has said,
I will never leave you nor forsake you.
COMMENTARY PEARL
I remember one of the first times as a
young believer when I didnt feel Gods
presence. I woke up one morning and just didnt have
the great feeling I had before. And being new in
the faith and not knowing the Bible very well, I
thought, I think God left me last night. What
happened?
When I talked to a Christian friend about
it, he told me, Youre going through a
trial.
What? Im on trial?
No, youre going through a trial.
Whats a trial?
My friend explained there are times in
our lives when we dont feel the presence of
God, but He is still there. And in time I came to
realize that God will allow us to go through
trials.
For instance, you might walk outside
tomorrow, and its an overcast day. So you say,
The sun was here yesterday. But I dont see
the sun today. I don't feel its warmth. I guess
the sun must have gone away last night.
No, the sun hasnt gone away. It has
been merely obscured by a cloud covering. And if
you dont believe that, then try going to the
beach without wearing any sunscreen. When you
return home resembling a ripe tomato, you will
realize the sun was out.
In the same way, some people falsely
conclude that when they dont feel God, He is gone.
He has disappeared. But He is there, even when
you dont feel Him. The Bible tells us in
Hebrews, For He Himself has said, I will never
leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5
NKJV).
It is during these times that we must
walk by faith, not by feeling, because God has
promised in His Word that He will be with us. That is
how we know He is there. [By Greg Laurie from
Harvest Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com]
TESTIMONY
O Love That Won't Let Go
My friend Melanie and I love to sing the
old song, 'O love that will not let me go, I
rest my weary soul in Thee.... We need to. It's
not only because she's holding life together by
her fingers and toes, raising two active little
boys and a toddler in diapers, cheering on her
pastor-husband, keeping house, shopping, cooking, and
running countless errands.
On top of that, she is going blind. Her
world is blurring over. First it was labels on
soup cans. Then it was the aisles in the store.
Soon it will be her children's faces. In an
e-mail, Melanie wrote: "The toughest battles in my
life are coming up and it's as though I'm already
losing the war! I feel as though life is leaving me
as my vision fades. I have such a sense that
'In this world you will have trouble....' Joni,
I am waiting for the peace."
I want to stay close on my friend's heels
as we journey further into the fellowship of
his sufferings. It's a road no one should walk
alone. Me or you. Melanie, on this eve of your
birthday, I'll tell you what. I'll keep being your
eyes, and you keep being my hands. And Jesus will
keep holding us with His grace... his love will
not let us go.
Jesus has promised never to fail us,
never to leave us, never to let us go. But there
are times when we need the warm touch of a
fellow traveler along the sometimes difficult path
of life. Will you be our Lord's touch, his
smile, his comfort, his word of encouragement and
hope to someone in a dark place today?
Lord, You have comforted me so many times
with a word or a hug or a note from one of Your
children. I'm asking You this day for the opportunity
to pass that love along. [Joni Eareckson Tada
Daily Devotional:
http://www.joniandfriends.org/daily-devotional]
CLOSING THOUGHT
People talk about generational curses,
about how theres a curse on their family and
theres no way to break the curse. They say things
like, Its too late for me. Ive made so
many mistakes, and Im in this messed-up
family. I know that Im going to do the same bad
things that my mom and dad did, and then my kids
are going to do them. Theres no way to break
the cycle of sin.
Nonsense.
When Jesus died on the cross, all curses
- all sins - were broken. And when you put
your faith in Christ, youre free from it.
Jesus can change your story.
If statistics went their natural
direction, I would have been divorced multiple times by
now, because my mom was married and divorced
seven times. If statistics went their natural
direction, Id probably be a drunk, because my mom
was an alcoholic. But God interrupted my story.
And He can do the same for you.
The Bible says that Samson didnt
realize the Lord had left him (Judges 16:20 NLT).
In the Old Testament, we read of the Spirit of
God coming upon someone or speaking to someone.
But in Samsons case, the Lord left him.
The good news is that Jesus has promised
believers that He will never leave us or forsake us.
Ever. God will never leave you, no matter what you
have done. God wont leave you, but you can
leave Him. God wont abandon you, but you can
abandon Him. And maybe youve done that.
Maybe youve made the worst decisions
and the worst decisions on top of that. Own
it. Admit it. Repent. Ask God to help. Call out
to Him. The Lord will answer your prayer, and
He will change your story. You can come back to
Him today. [By Greg Laurie from Harvest
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
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]
Refresh yourself in the Peace of My
Presence. This Peace can be your portion at all times
and in all circumstances. Learn to hide in the
secret of My Presence, even as you carry out your
duties in the world. I am both with you and within
you. I go before you to open up the way, and I
also walk alongside you. There could never be
another companion as devoted as I am.
Because I am your constant Companion,
there should be a lightness to your step that is
observable to others. Do not be weighed down with
problems and unresolved issues, for I am your
burden-bearer. In the world you have trials and distress,
but don't let them get you down. I have
conquered the world and deprived it of power to harm
you. In Me you may have confident Peace. (Psa.
31:19-20; John 16:33) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2018/20180408-1904.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
