Ever with Me

Jesus's "Great Commission" (Mt. 28:18-20) shows that our responsibility begins and ends with faith in His sufficiency. Before giving instructions, He reminds His men that He holds full authority over everything; after the charge to make disciples, He assures the apostles He will never leave them to struggle on their own. His authority was at their disposal, as long as they remembered His commands and trusted Him for strength.

Few of us, asked if that promise still holds for Christians today, would verbally deny it. Yet often our actions say that we don't believe a word of it: we focus on our weaknesses instead of on Christ's sufficiency; we forget to consult Him on any regular basis; we choose for ourselves what tasks we "should" undertake; and we rush frantically through our chosen duties as if the fate of the world depended on success and success depended on our sufficiency. No wonder we ignore opportunities to witness and teach; besides worrying about what others will think of us, we're too busy thinking about ourselves to be concerned with them!

We would discharge our responsibilities more effectively if we began and ended every planning session by reminding ourselves Who really makes the master plan.

"With you, ever with you"--what a wondrous pledge He made,
He, my soul's Redeemer; He Whose love will never fade;
He Who stays to guide me through each day of earthly strife;
He Who made this promise: "I am with you all your life."

"With you, ever with you"--He Whose presence drives out fear;
He Who gives me courage to stand firm each mortal year;
He Who lights my pathway through each dim, uncertain haze;
He Who gave His promise: "I will lead you all your days."

"With you, ever with you"--He Who cannot change or lie
Promised me His presence till I tell this world goodbye;
And, forever after, in His Kingdom I will be,
His Who made this promise: "All your joy is found in Me."

"With you, ever with you"--Lord, I know that others live
Lonely, empty, hopeless, never knowing You forgive:
Let Your presence with me show in all I do and say,
Till they learn Your promise to be with them all the way.