With Us

You probably have Matthew 28:18 – 20 (here @ BibleGateway) memorized.  There is much in there to consider; but focus for a moment on the last part of 20 (here @ BibleGateway), in the NASB, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  In the Greek literally it says, “and behold I with you I am all the days until the end of the age.”

I especially like the literal because of the emphasis on the day-by-day presence of the Lord.  The “always” is vague and macro.  Whereas “all the days” is each and every day and reinforces His presence continually.  This is not the first and only place that we encounter the personal commitment of the Lord to be with us.  Look at Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 (here @ BibleGateway), Joshua 1:5 (here @ BibleGateway), and Hebrews 13:5 (here @ BibleGateway).

The notion that the Lord is continually with me, day by day, is incredibly encouraging to me.  In the midst of any trial in which we are facing, we are not alone.  He is with us.  It is the same idea we see in Psalm 23:4 (here @ BibleGateway).  In all we experience, think of it, the Lord, the one who emptied Himself, came as a baby, lived, died on a cross, was buried, rose again, ate with the 11, and ascended to the right hand of the Father where He continually intercedes for us, is with us continually.