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Matthew 28:20b - Christ Our Constant Companion!

Matthew 28:20b (NLT) And be sure of this: I 
am with you always, even to the end of the age. 
 

INTRODUCTION

How is Jesus with us? Jesus was with the 
disciples physically until he ascended into heaven, 
and then spiritually through the Holy Spirit 
(Acts 1:4). The Holy Spirit would be Jesus 
presence that would never leave them (John 14:26). 
Jesus continues to be with us today through his 
Spirit. [Life Application SB] 

COMMENTARY PEARL

God's Presence
   These words are Christ's promise to all 
His disciples, and it is a promise that is 
marvelously inclusive. No situation is excluded; no 
challenge is omitted.  
   Dr. Handley Moule, the noted Greek 
scholar and Anglican Bishop of Durham (England) in 
another generation, maintained that the word always 
could be paraphrased to mean "I am with you all 
the days, all day long." That means we can count 
on Christ's presence not only every day, but 
every moment of every day. 
   Of the fact of His presence there can be 
no doubt, for His Word cannot fail. What We 
Need Is To Cultivate The Sense Of His Presence, 
Everyday, Every Hour, Every Moment. This Happens As We 
Speak To Him In Worship And Prayer, And Listen To 
Him Speak To Us Through His Word, The Bible. 
   Christ's Presence Means That You Will 
Never Face Anything Alone.  He Is With You In The 
Valley And Marches With You Into Battle.  It's 
Never You Against The World, It's You With The One 
Who Has Overcome The World.  [Hope for Each Day 
by Billy Graham] 

COMMENTARY

The Masters Voice
   The mark of a disciple is his or her 
ability to hear the Masters voice!  The world 
rams at your door, but Jesus taps. Voices scream 
for your allegiance, but Jesus softly and 
tenderly requests it. Which voice do you hear? There 
is never a time during which Jesus is not 
speaking. Never. There is never a place in which Jesus 
is not present. Ever. There is never a time 
when He is not tapping gently on the doors of our 
hearts - waiting to be invited in. 
   Few hear His voice. Fewer still open the 
door. But never interpret our numbness as His 
absence. For amidst the fleeting promises of pleasure 
is the timeless promise of His presence. 
Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the 
age (Matthew 28:20). There is no chorus so loud 
that the voice of God cannot be heard  if we 
will but listen! [Max Lucado Daily Devotional at 
maxlucado.com] 

COMMENTARY ILLUSTRATIONS

Isolation And Loneliness
   Recently I began reading A funny novel 
about an awkward young female character, and early 
in the story, she mentions she had gone an 
entire weekend without speaking to a single human 
being. She asks herself; "I exist, don't I?" This 
was supposed to be funny, but it hit too close 
to home. 
   For the past few months, I've been 
fighting loneliness. As a writer, I spend a lot of 
time isolated. Because my husband travels and our 
children no longer live at home, the empty rooms, 
tidy floors, and squeaky-clean bathrooms make our 
home feel deserted. Also, many close friends have 
drifted in different directions. So, when I read 
those words, I panicked and thought, That could be 
me. 
   I used to look forward to solitary time, 
but now that I have lots of it, I dread it. I've 
found the ache of loneliness so intense that 
sometimes I'm immobilized and can even sink into 
self-pity. I know this is not Jesus's desire for me. He 
doesn't want me to stay stuck in a slump, feeling 
forgotten or believing no one cares. 
   So, during this season of isolation, I'm 
making a daily choice to spend time with Jesus and 
also reach out to friends. I put that novel back 
on the shelf to read in a less lonely season. I 
picked up my phone and made plans to meet a friend 
for lunch, then grabbed my Bible to spend time 
with Jesus because He is always there for me. 
Jeannie Blackmer 
   Faith Step: Write Matthew 28:20 on a 
piece of paper and tape it on your mirror to 
remind you of His caring presence. [Mornings With 
Jesus 2021 Devotional by Guideposts and 
Zondervan] 

Encouraged to Fly
   A red-tailed hawk lives somewhere down in 
the green space behind our fence. We'd heard the 
hawk's piercing cry before but figured it was the 
scrub jays again, imitating the hawk's call. That 
high-pitched screech sends the mourning doves, quail, and 
songbirds scattering for cover - leaving those jays 
laughing as they claim our abandoned bird feeder and 
scarf down the seed. 
   This time, the piercing cries really were 
from hawks: not one, but three. Mom's cry sounded 
encouraging, mature, and confident; the babies sounded so 
pathetic, I wanted to weep. We kept trying to spot 
them, and then two perched in our tree. They 
weren't babies. They looked more like adolescents. 
And could they make noise! They'd swivel their 
heads and cry and cry, and Mom would answer. 
   I started imagining the conversation:
   "Mom! We're hungry! Where's the vole?"
   "You said you didn't like vole."
   "What about that field mouse down there? 
He looks tasty."  
   "You've got wings. You flew to that limb, 
didn't you? You've got eyes! You just spotted that 
mouse. Go get him." 
   "Ah, Mooommm. We're tired. We're hungry. 
You do it."  
   "You're old enough to learn how to earn 
your own living."  
   "But we're scared, Mom. What if we 
crash-dive? What if we come up empty?" 
   "You don't think I crash-dived when I was 
learning? You don't think I failed? I had to learn 
too. Now get off your tail feathers and go for 
it!" 
   I was cheering them on. "Go for those 
mice! Get that rattlesnake! Come on, hawklet! Come 
on, hawkling! You can do it!" 
   Sometimes it feels like God is abandoning 
us to fend for ourselves. But He is always 
right behind us, encouraging us to do the right 
thing. Encouraging us when we fail. Helping us grow 
into the people we were meant to be. God loves us 
too much to let us stay where we are. He is 
always working for our growth, equipping us for new 
things and supporting us along the way. As 
Deuteronomy 31:8 says, "The Lord himself goes before you 
and will be with you; he will never leave you 
nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be 
discouraged" (NIV). 
   Take heart, and don't be afraid to fly!
   Have you ever felt that God is abandoning 
you? How could it change your mind-set to 
consider that He might be giving you space to step 
out in faith and courage? How do we know that 
God is always with us? 
   Heavenly Father, so often my fear of 
failing keeps me from having the courage to step out 
in faith. Thank You for never leaving me. Help 
me to remember that You are with me every step 
of the way, encouraging me, going before me, 
and molding me into the person You have created 
me to be. [Earth Psalms by Francine Rivers] 

Its a Jungle Out There
   The story is told of a man on an African 
safari deep in the jungle. The guide before him had 
a machete and was whacking away the tall weeds 
and thick underbrush. The traveler, wearied and 
hot, asked in frustration, Where are we? Do 
you know where you are taking me? Where is the 
path?! The seasoned guide stopped and looked back 
at the man and replied, I am the path. 
   We ask the same questions, dont we? We 
ask God, Where are you taking me? Where is 
the path? And he, like the guide, doesnt 
tell us. Oh, he may give us a hint or two, but 
thats all. If he did, would we understand? Would 
we comprehend our location? No, like the 
traveler, we are unacquainted with this jungle. So 
rather than give us an answer, Jesus gives us a far 
greater gift. He gives us himself. 
   Does he remove the jungle? No, the 
vegetation is still thick. 
   Does he purge the predators? No, danger 
still lurks. 
   Jesus doesnt give hope by changing the 
jungle; he restores our hope by giving us himself. 
And he has promised to stay until the very end. 
I am with you always, to the very end of the 
age (Matt. 28:20 NIV). 
   We need that reminder. We all need that 
reminder. For all of us need hope. 
   Some of you dont need it right now. 
Your jungle has become a meadow and your journey 
a delight. If such is the case, 
congratulations. But remember - we do not know what tomorrow 
holds. We do not know where this road will lead. 
You may be one turn from a cemetery, from a 
hospital bed, from an empty house. You may be a bend 
in the road from a jungle. 
   And though you dont need your hope 
restored today, you may tomorrow. And you need to 
know to whom to turn. 
   Or perhaps you do need hope today. You 
know you were not made for this place. You know 
you are not equipped. You want someone to lead 
you out. 
   If so, call out for your Shepherd. He 
knows your voice. And hes just waiting for your 
request. [Max Lucado Daily Devotional at 
maxlucado.com] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC

Matthew 28:20b - Christ Our Constant 
Companion! 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2018/20180408-1904.html 

Hebrews 13:5 - Always There!

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190813-1050.html 

Joshua 1:9 - Courage in Calamity: The 
Dynamics. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2016/20160305-1530.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  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Steps to Peace by Billy Graham: 
https://stepstopeace.org/ 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

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  

Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study 
Guides: 
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of 
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible 

Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug 
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/  

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: 
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657  

Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The 
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE