I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS
Surely I am with you always. Matt. 28:20
Dearly beloved in Christ! New Year Greetings to you in the matchless name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In the beginning of this year 2019, God gives us the following words of promise, “My son! My daughter! I am with you always.” It is practically impossible for anybody in this world to be present with us, help and support us at all times, be it mother, father, husband, wife or children. But, our Lord Jesus Christ, who is most powerful, can be with us, till the end of our lives. Let us meditate on how and in what way Jesus will be with us from the 28th chapter of the gospel of Matthew. He will be with you:
- As one who guarantees to fulfil his promises
Matthew 28: 6 says “He has risen, just as he said”. The Bible does not simply say that Jesus is risen. Hence, the fact that whatever Jesus says will come to pass has been given emphasis. The Lord who said I am with you is one who fulfils his promise. Once Jesus said to two of his disciples about a colt that no one had ever ridden and the place it is kept tied (Luke 19:30). They went and found it as He said (Luke 19:32). Isn’t this amazing? At another time, there came to Jesus a servant of the king to request healing for his son’s illness. Jesus said ‘Go your way, your son lives.’ And at that very moment, he received his healing (John 4: 50-53). Yes, our Lord does what he says. Beloved, God shall surely fulfil in this year all the promises that he has given you. God who promised to be with you shall surely keep his words (Num. 23:19)!
- As one who goes before you
It is written in Matthew 28:7, “he is going before you.” The Lord who said I am with you will go before you, every day and every minute of this year. You might wonder, ‘didn’t Jesus say he shall go before his disciples only to Galilee’? Will he go before me too? Turn to John 10: 4. It says that when the shepherd brings out his sheep, he goes before them. Dear child of God! Aren’t we the sheep belonging to his flock? Isn’t He our heavenly shepherd? If the worldly shepherd goes before the sheep of his fold, how much more the Lord Jesus Christ, our heavenly shepherd would go before us throughout this year.
In Matthew 8: 23, we read that only after Jesus stepped into the boat did his disciples come inside. Yes, in the journey of Christian living as well, Jesus has already taken his seat in the boat, before us. Let cyclones come and storms arise! We will not fear. We shall courageously continue our progress in the journey of Christian life!
The Lord will go before you to deliver you from bondages (Exo. 13: 21-22). He will go before you to show you the way in this year (Deut. 1: 32, 33). The Bible declares, “For the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your read guard” (Isaiah 52:12). “It is the Lord who goes before you, he shall be with you. He shall never leave you nor forsake you” (Deut. 31: 8)! “God will go before you and make your paths straight and to break every barrier” (Isaiah 45: 2; Micah 2:13). Amen!
- As one who greets and blesses you
According to Matthew 28: 9, Jesus himself met them and said “Greetings.” Jesus, who has said I am with you, is one who meets you, enquires about your well-being and greets you. Generally, it is the servants or those below in social status that say “greetings” on meeting a superior. Here, on the contrary, the God of gods, who created all things, meets you, a humble insignificant being and says “Greetings”.
Jesus Christ meets you personally this year and says ‘Greetings’ or in other words “I wish you well. Rejoice and be glad.” The Bible says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers” (3 John 2). Yes, God shall surely prosper you in your spiritual and physical realms of life in this year!
- As one who gives freedom from your fears
Jesus said in Matthew 28:10, “Be not afraid.” Yes, when Jesus is with us, we need not fear. After Jesus’ crucifixion and death on the cross, his disciples fearing the Jews, gathered in a closed room. They did not know that Jesus was not in the grave, but has risen. Jesus stood among them who had locked themselves in with fear, as the risen Lord and said “Peace be unto you” (John 20:19).
Beloved in Christ! You may be living with fear concerning certain situations and troubles in your life. The risen Lord tells you in this situation “I am with you” and grants you his peace. The Lord says, “Fear not; for I am with you” (Isa. 41: 10). “Fear not; I will help you” (Isa. 41:13). “Fear not: for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you” (Isa. 43: 1, 2)!
- As one who grants authority to use you
In Matthew 28: 18, 19, Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority is given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore, and make disciples of nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt 28: 18, 19). The Lord who has promised to be with us has power and authority over heaven and earth. We see a centurion in the Bible. If he asks his servant to go, he goes and to come, he comes (Luke 7: 8). This is a power that few on earth enjoy. But, Jesus has power not only on earth, but also in heaven. If He shuts the heaven’s door, nobody can open it. If He opens it, none can close it (Rev. 3: 7). His authority is incomparable. The Bible says that He has the authority to forgive sins, to drive out evil spirits, to command the wind and the sea, to give his life and to take it back. (Matt 9:6, Luke 4:36, 8:24, John 10: 18).
The Lord Jesus grants you His authority this year and would like to use you as a blessing to many (Mark 3: 15, Luke 9:1; 10: 19). Don’t give room for fear but share the good news with authority and boldness. The disciples, who received the authority from Jesus went out and preached the gospel everywhere. And the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs and wonders that accompanied it (Mark 16: 17-20). In the same way, you too should use God’s power and authority granted to you to win souls for Christ. Lead them to take baptism. Make them disciples! God will be with you and work great things! Amen.
