“. . . and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
As I walked into the kitchen for my morning cup of coffee, my Barnes & Nobel Scrabble Wordplay caught my eye, so I stepped over to that side of the kitchen and tore off yesterday’s page, revealing a statement that has led me today to remember—God’s Promised Truth.
THE STATEMENT: Find 5 things today that start with: “P”
Grabbing a Sharpie, I quickly wrote these five (5) words.
- PURPOSE!
- PREPARE!
- PRAY!
- PEACE!
- PRAISE!
“The other day,” I said to my special friend, “I received a text from __________, and she said the most thoughtful words, kind words.”
The text: “I was laying here this morning reflecting on the school year. I want you to know how much I really appreciate you really vying for me to get hired. It is such a fulfilling occupation. I have the very best friends and the very best students. I feel that the Heavenly Father placed me here. Thank you.”
- Is it true that God tests His children?
- Is it also true that God stands with His children, walks them through trials, sustains them with His Spirit, & promises to never leave them?
Finally—
YES, IT IS TRUE—GOD—Assures His children, reminding them that—HE HAS BEEN WITH THEM FROM THE BEGINNING & HE WILL BE WITH THEM “to the end of the age.” !
Hope Darst sings a melody titled “Never Walk Alone” that speaks of the “God-Truth” I am discovering today. Please pause and be reminded (as I was) of God’s eternal promise.
“. . . and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28: 20b NASB)
Today, I have come to these questions:
- Who do I worship? Who do you worship? (Heart, Soul, Mind, & Strength)
- What commands my attention? What commands your attention? (Get rid of false gods)
- Where am I in my obedience? Where are you in your obedience? (Yes, Lord!)
- When Jesus speaks through His Holy Spirit, do I listen & obey? What about you—Do you listen & obey?
- Why would I choose to NOT follow Jesus when He gave me so much? Truly, WHY WOULD WE EVER NOT FOLLOW JESUS WHO GAVE SO MUCH—FOR US!!!
- How in the world can some doubt the authority of Jesus Christ, the Son of God? !!!
- WHO IS GOD LEADING US (YOU & ME) TO WITNESS TO—THIS DAY?
- WILL WE BE OBEDIENT?
PURPOSE—GOD HAS ALWAYS KNOWN HIS ETERNAL PLAN FOR EACH OF OUR LIVES !!!
“Before I formed you in the
(Jeremiah 1:5 NASB)
womb I knew you,
And before you were born
I consecrated you;
I have appointed you as a
prophet to the nations.”
PREPARE—BE CAREFUL !!!
“Whatever I command you,
(Deuteronomy 12: 32 NASB)
you shall be careful to do;
you shall not add to nor take anything away from it.”
PRAY—WE ARE TO ALWAYS PRAY, GIVING THANKS TO GOD FOR OTHER BELIEVERS !!!
“We always give thanks to God for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers.”
(1 Thessalonians 1: 2 NASB)
PEACE—WE SERVE AN AMAZING, INCOMPARABLE CHRIST !!!
“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
(Colossians 1: 13-17 NASB)
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation:
for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—
all things have been created through Him and for Him.
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
PRAISE—WHAT IF CHRIST NEVER CAME TO EARTH? !!!
“But I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified, nor fear them.
(Deuteronomy 1: 29-31 NASB)
The LORD your God, who goes before you, will Himself fight for you, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes,
and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, just as a man carries his son, on all of the road which you have walked until you came to this place.’ “
- If Jesus never came to earth—WE WOULD BE MOST MISERABLE!
- If Christ Jesus never gave His life on the cross—WE WOULD BE MOST MISERABLE & DOOMED FOREVER!
- If God never sent His Only Son—WE WOULD BE MOST MISERABLY LOST!
I have always had a “heart” for foreign exchange students, and in 2015, God moved a most special one into my home. Since that time, she has become less “student” and more “daughter.”
Then in 2020, God placed in my heart a new purpose, a decision that at first caused me great fear. In obedience, I stepped into God’s new purpose for my life. Amazingly, God has now placed me on a new campus and surrounded me with students from 92 different nations.
As I talked with my special friend yesterday, while the lingering sunlight faded into evening, I recounted to her how thankful I was for the unexpected text message I received the other day. I said: “Maybe this was the reason God led me to leave the job, the place, the people I loved. Maybe this is why the Lord led me to teach at a new place.”
“and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, just as a man carries his son, on all of the road which you have walked until you came to this place.’ “
(Deuteronomy 1: 31 NASB)
Thank You, Jesus, for Your promise to be with us—always—until the very end.
Thank You, Holy Spirit, for leading us where You know we need to go.
Thank You, God, for saving our soul.
Help us, LORD, keep our eyes, our whole being, facing and focused ONLY ON YOU, LORD !!!