by David Brenneman
“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37.
“The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.
“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10.
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalms 23:4.
“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” Matthew 18:20.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? ” Romans 8:31.
“Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”” Hebrews 13:5.
“The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.” Psalms 46:7.
“Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!” 2 Thessalonians 3:16.
How often do we admit that we feel like we are alone? How often do we feel that kind of despair?
Keep this list of passages handy. Along with the other's the first few points to His promises to us and that He keeps His word to not just those who believe but to those who rejected Him as well.
When we face uncertainty, face grief, face abuse, face mankind, we can feel as though we're going it all alone.
The promises of God are forever.
Learning to do life differently in Christ is going to take some time to adjust to.
The Disciples had to be retrained concerning what they knew to be their truth from birth to what God's truth said concerning them and the world in which they lived.
Jesus spoke to them of what the battles ahead for them were going to look like. Of how these battles wouldn't really be fought in the physical world but on spiritual battlefields.
My Dear Reader your battles take place in the same places. That same Jesus who assured them assures us. That same Jesus who went through everything we read of the cross and arose again to conquer sin, death and the grave and encouraged the Disciples also is there to encourage us.
We can get fixated on our issues and forget we aren't alone in them.
We can get comfortable with the pain when Jesus keeps saying "Give that to Me".
We can "suffer in silence" rather than cry out to Jesus "help me!".
We can be insufferably stubborn about our lives and whatever is going on in them to go it alone when we who are in Christ were never meant to go it alone.
We likewise can "enjoy" such successes in life that we are still going it alone apart from the relationship with Jesus that we were supposed to be having.
A Disciple, from sun up to sundown, walks with their Master to learn to walk in their ways. All the while denying themselves and their wants and desires in favor of what's to be learned.
The Master, our Master and Lord Jesus Christ, assures them and us, that the Disciple who follows fully won't be alone.
My Dear Reader...really consider, really really consider what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Really think about what you experience and perceive about being alone or even in a crowd and align that with His truths about daily life in Christ.
You may be going through what you think is the worst day of your life...He is there with you.
You may be going through a mediocre day...He is there with you.
You may be in a place of hurt and pain over whatever has happened in your life...He is still right there with you.
Sometimes in my life I have just prayed for Jesus to just hold me.
Sometimes my only prayer was "Help!".
If you are among the saved in Christ Jesus...He is always right with you. He is the promise keeper.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.
La Habra, CA All rights reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment