“My Presence Will Go With You!”

“My Presence Will Go With You…!”
God does not call you to abandon you in midstream. He accompanies you all through. Our mission is “Missio Dei” – God’s Mission.
When Jesus gave the Great Commission, he assured the disciples, “And surely I am with you always, to the end of the age”(Mt.28:20b). Yes, he walks with us through waves and storms, ensuring that we accomplish what he wants us to accomplish for him.
Even so, it is a daunting responsibility when God has assigned you lead his people. It is easy to easily forget that it is God’s Mission and now consider it to be my mission! When that happens, then the Spirit of God has surely departed from you.
We can always learn from the past. Once upon a time when God called Moses to lead his people, Moses was not very sure. He said to the Lord, “You have always been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me.” Also Moses did not take for granted that because God had called him it means he had all what it takes to lead the people. Moses requested of God, “If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favour with you. Remember that this nation is your people…”
God told Moses, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest”(Ex.33:1219). God’s mission field is a field of danger. It is not luxury, security and comfort. The exodus lasted for forty years. It was forty years of desert wanderings with dissasters befalling the people, hardheartedness, insults and obstinacy of the led, yet Moses kept going till the promise land was sighted.
Jesus knew he was going to be betrayed and be killed, but he knew there was glory after that as “after three days he will rise”(Mk.9:30-33).
For the sake of the gospel Paul had worked much harder than others, he was frequently imprisoned, flogged severely and was exposed to death again and again. He had received thirty-nine lashes three times. He was beaten with rods three times, he was once stoned. He was shipwrecked thrice and he spent almost two days in the open sea. He was constantly on the move, faced dangers from rivers, from bandits, from his own country men and from Gentiles. He faced dangers in the city as well as in the country, in the sea and from false brothers. He toiled and laboured, often going without sleep, etc. But in all these things, he did not show off. He kept on keeping on because he received this assurance, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”(II Cor.11:21b-12:10).
Yes, when God calls us to lead it is to face the dangers and perils of the outside, yet having the confidence that his Presence is going with us!
Sunday prayer: Lord, teach me your ways so that I may know you and continue to find favour with you. Let your Presence accompany us. Amen!
Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you!