Staying Power

• Describe a time when you have felt God’s presence in your life.

• How do you know that God will never leave you?

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20b

Matthew chose these words to conclude his Gospel account. He chose to end the story of Jesus on earth with the reminder that Jesus will always be with us.

Jesus spoke these words after his resurrection. He spoke them to his disciples before he ascended into heaven. They would soon not be able to see Jesus the way they were used to seeing him, as a man walking on earth. So he wanted to assure them, and us, that even though we can’t see him, he hasn’t left us.

God will never leave us. He does not abandon his children. He promises this over and over in his Word, and he has shown this over and over in the lives of believers. Romans 8:39 tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus.

We can try to run away from God. We can commit sins that come between us and God. We can try to ignore God. But he will not leave us. He stays with us through thick and thin, through this life on earth and through eternity in heaven.

PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for not giving up on us. Thank you for remaining with us no matter what. Please help us to feel you working in our lives and give us opportunities to share your love with others. Amen.