Pastor column: 'Lo, I am with you always'
I heard a story about a Sunday School teacher who asked her class … ”What Bible person would you like to be?” The girls said Mary, Ruth and Rachel. The boys said David, Peter, Paul. But one boy didn’t answer. The teacher asked him who he’d like to be? “Lo.” He said. With shock she said, “Lo?” He responded with, “Yeah, you know, in the Bible, Lo, I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20) Personally, I think he had the best choice.
Concerning the sharing the Gospel, Jesus doesn’t send us out without the right resources. He doesn’t expect us to witness in our own power. In fact, Matthew 28:18-20 gives us the greatest resources we have as witnesses of the Gospel.
First, we are promised His Presence — “Lo, I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). When you are sharing the Gospel, the Lord Himself is right there with you. He will help you, enable you, embolden you and use you if you will simply obey Him and share the Gospel with others. You will never share the Gospel alone if you are a child of God!
Second, we are promised His Power — “All power in Heaven and earth is given unto Me” (Matthew 28:18). Jesus said, “But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be witnesses to me” (Acts 1:8). When we are faithful to share His Gospel, we can be confident God will use His message for His glory. The Spirit of God will take our witness and use the words we share to convict the hearts of the lost (John 16:7-8).
As a believer, I have a personal testimony, and if I will faithfully share what the Lord has done for me and what He has said in His Word, He will put His power on my message and draw sinners to Himself for salvation.
D. L. Moody made a covenant with God that he would witness for Christ to at least one person each day. One night, he went out in to the street and spoke to a man, asking him, “Are you a Christian?” The man flew into a rage and threatened to knock Moody into the gutter. Three months later, Moody was awakened by a man knocking at the door. It was the man he had witnessed to. “I want to talk to you about my soul,” he said to Moody. He apologized for the way he had treated Moody and said that he had had no peace ever since that night when Moody witnessed to him. Moody led the man to Christ and he became a zealous worker.
Our greatest blessing is in the truth that Jesus never changes! What He was then is what He is now. His presence and power has never, nor will He ever change. He is still "I AM!" He still possesses all power in heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18). We can always give a powerful testimony of our faithful Savior!
Rev. J. Patrick Street is the lead pastor of Redeemer Church in Marion. He can be reached at coachpatstreet@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Share the Gospel and the Lord will be with you
