AUGUST 6, 2012
Always
Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
We shall always be
with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these
words. —1 Thessalonians. 4:17-18
I love the words
always and never. They hold so much hope! I would like
to think that I could
always be happy and that life would never fail me. But
reality says that I
won’t always be happy and that the things I hope would
never happen just might.
So, as good as these words sound, they struggle
to live up to their
potential—unless you are thinking about the promise of
Jesus’ presence.
To a group of troubled
disciples who feared facing life on their own Jesus
said, “I am with you
always” (Matt. 28:20). The writer to the Hebrews
reminds us that Jesus said,
“‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So
we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is
my helper; I will not fear’” (Heb. 13:5-6).
And the apostle Paul assures
believers that after death, “We shall always
be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:17).
How encouraging!
No matter how scary
our journey may feel today or how hopeless our
future may look, the assurance
of His never-failing presence can provide
us with the courage and comfort to
make it through. And best of all, when
this short life is over, we will always
be with Him. No wonder Paul
encourages us to “comfort one another with these
words” (v.18).
Jesus
said He’s always with us,
He
will never leave our side;
Someday
we’ll be in His presence
Where
forever we’ll abide. —Sper
Confidence in God’s
presence is our comfort.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
