NEVER LEFT ALONE

A flight attendant noticed an elderly lady having a difficult time buckling her seat belt. Recognizing her anxiety and obvious fear, the flight attendant went to the captain and explained what she had seen. Graciously, he accompanied the attendant to the lady, and he asked, “May I help you, Ma’am?”

“Oh, yes,” she replied. “This is my first flight. I must admit that I am rather frightened. Tell me, Sir, will you bring me back down safely?”

As he fastened her seat belt, he smiled politely and said, “Yes, Ma’am. I’ve flown hundreds of thousands of miles and never left anyone up there.”

In the closing verse of Matthew, Jesus made one final, eternal promise to His disciples: “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Have no doubt about Me!

What a precious and powerful promise: “I am with you always.” But what does it mean? Would his memories be with us? Would his teachings be with us? Would His imprint on history be with us? Of course. But that is only the beginning.

“I am with you” leaves no doubt that after Jesus ascended into heaven, He would be with us through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit, available and active in our lives, is Jesus’ presence within us and working through us. Jesus was with His disciples then, and today the Holy Spirit is with us now, always will be, and will never leave us. Ever.

Jesus said, “I am going away, but I will come back to you again!” And He did – through the Holy Spirit. And because of God’s power through Christ, He continues to be with us today.

Prayer:  Thank You, Father, for the assurance of Your presence in our lives. We are comforted to know that whatever comes into our life, You are there to protect us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today:   Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20