Matthew 28:20
“Lo, I AM with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Every word is emphatic.
The Ascension was at hand!
This implied an absence of His visible Presence,
to be replaced by a Spiritual Presence,
more perfect,
potent,
effectual,
infinite.
It is I Myself,
I,
God and Man,
Who AM
(not “will be”)
henceforward ever present among you,
“with you”
as
Companion,
Friend,
Guide,
Saviour,
God.
I AM with you
in all your
ministrations,
prayers public and private,
baptisms,
communions,
exhortations,
doctrine,
discipline
And this,
not just now and then,
not at certain times only,
but “all the days” of your pilgrimage,
all the dark days of trial and persecution and affliction;
all the days when you,. . .
are gathered to your rest,
and have committed your work to other hands;
My Presence shall
never
be withdrawn
for a single moment.
~
(Modified from the Pulpit Commentary)
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ABANDONMENT
For a child of God?
NEVER!
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Hebrews 13:5
He hath said,
I will
NEVER
leave thee,
nor forsake thee.
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Definition of forsake:
to quit or leave entirely;
To abandon or desert.
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Melissa rang the door bell as we were opening the door to leave.
She was a pretty 19 year old from Chicago.
She said she was in town with a company,
from what I gathered selling magazines.
She had an effervescent personality .
She shared how she had been abandoned
when she was 4 years old
with several of her siblings.
Melissa was adopted and her description of her adopted mother
was that she “was not a nice lady!”
My husband shared Jesus with her,
and that He would never leave or forsake her.
She said she was a Christian, and replied,
“I know that’s right.”
Before we went our separate ways we prayed for her.
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We are not alone on our journey.
The God of love Who gave us Life
sent us His Son…
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FROM MY HEART TO YOU 