Tag: Matthew 28:20
God’s Promised Faithfulness!
Scripture reading for September 17: Psalm 94:14-19 “For the Lord will not forsake His people; He will not abandon His heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it. Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers? If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, “My foot slips,” Your steadfast love, O Lord held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, Your consolations cheer my soul.”
Matthew 28:20 “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
This psalmist was worshiping God by recounting God’s presence and help in times of trouble and enemies attacking. His major theme was that God would not forsake His people. God was not fickle, but steadfast in His love through all trials and every valley we might face. Though man may forsake us or turn on us, God will never abandon us. The psalmist even stated that if God had not been with him and helped him, he would now be dead. Even when fear gripped his heart, God sent His steadfast covenant love and held him up. When cares and anxiety multiplied, God sent consolations to cheer his soul. This recounting of God’s presence and care brought consolation and renewed faith and is even now bringing that to believers.
This theme was continued in Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples. He sent them out into all the world to proclaim the Good News through preaching, healing and deliverance through the Holy Spirit, God’s presence with them. They were to help others know God by bearing His presence and heart of mercy. His promise to them was that He would be with them always, even to the end of the age!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your promise of continual presence that has sustained and comforted believers since the beginning. You are the Faithful God Who will never abandon Your people! Hold me up each day and bring consolations that cheer my soul! As from the beginning, You are faithful to the end! Amen!
Courage required–no wimps!
Scripture Reading for March 1: Joshua 1-5
Walking with God is not for wimps! God leads His people in paths of righteousness and truth. He is a mighty Warrior! His reputation for war is known far and wide! He never loses or backs down, but often uses only those willing to follow His leadership. As we begin our walk through Joshua, we listen in as God finishes His preparation of Joshua to lead His people to possess the promised land.
“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6-9
Possessing our inheritance requires strength and courage, especially in leadership! It requires strength because there is walking involved and mountains and valleys to traverse. We must have strength of mind to keep our thoughts focused on God’s promises. We must possess strength of character and soul to keep from falling to the temptations of the enemy and the flesh that would trip us up. God promises to lead us and go with us (Matthew 28:20).
Courage is the ability to face tough situations with confidence. Courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to face fear with truth and keep moving toward the goal. The confidence is not to be in our own strength, mind or ability, but comes from a relationship with God. When we know God, we come to trust and rely on His leadership and strength to get us through each obstacle. Joshua was told not to let God’s Law and Word depart from his mouth or mind. He was guaranteed prosperity and success as he meditated on the Word and was careful to obey. Faith is produced by this process and it pleases God! (Romans 10:17) (Hebrews 11:6)
Today, receive this reading from Joshua as a call to walk in renewed strength and courage. Jesus Christ has blazed a trail of perfect obedience to God and He is with us. “Be strong and very courageous!”
Thankful for courage!
Scripture reading for May 9th: Nehemiah 3-6
Key Scriptures: Nehemiah 4:13-14 “Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.””
Nehemiah was a wise leader who acted in faith and courage. He surveyed the situation and stationed the people as needed and encouraged them not to live in fear but to work and fight in faith. This faith was based in their Lord, who was great and awesome and who would fight for them!
Thankful for courage: Jesus Christ has said, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.” (2nd Timothy 1:7)
Thankful for Promises!
Scripture reading for April 3rd: 1st Kings 7-10
Key Scriptures: 1st Kings 8:55-57 “He (Solomon) stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice saying: “Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel just as He promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through His servant Moses. May the Lord our God be with us as He was with our fathers; may He never leave us or forsake us.”
Solomon dedicated the temple with a prayer for God’s presence and blessing to remain with His people in a continuing manner for all time to come. He praised God for the rest given Israel and for the faithful promises that proved true–down to the last word! By faith we lay hold of these sure words!
Rejoicing in true promises: Jesus Christ, Solomon’s son and God’s Son, also stated the truth of God’s promises and promised to be with His people always! “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) ” “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)