“And
lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew
28:20, KJ21)
How do you describe the presence of Christ
to the people you encounter in your everyday life? Is it commanding presence that dominates your
every motivation and action? Is it certain
knowledge in that one is keenly aware in the actions that our Savior would want us
to do in any given situation? Is it a sense
or a feeling that Jesus is with us during my hard days? Is it a time of elation, spilling out of our
hearts as we see Christ move in a given situation? If Christ promises to abide with us through
His Holy Spirit; is it a constant presence or is it a situational
happening? Is the rest He promises to
the heavy laden; something that is automatic or does it come only when we seek
him out?
People have asked me from time to time; “When
do you or did you; feel the presence of Christ?” In my answers I speak of moments filled with
God’s grace as I become overwhelmed with the thought of the sacrifice of Jesus in
loving me; a stumbling and failing sinner.
I have felt the presence of Christ as I have lifted a fellow believer up
from the baptismal waters into the joy of Christ as they began the journey of
becoming a new creation by the power of God’s workmanship. I have felt the presence of Christ as I
shared the Good News of hope with those who felt hopeless. I have felt the
presence of Christ as I offered up fragile prayers that were for seemingly
impossible situations where words were woefully inadequate to express my great need from my generous and gracious Heavenly Father. I have
felt the presence of Christ as gratitude has swept over my emotions as my
Heavenly Father has always done more than I could have imagined or thought possible as
He answered those little prayers.
I thought of the times when His presence was so comforting as my heart was breaking
and I fell into His open arms of my Shepherd and Savior. I have felt the presence of the all-knowing Christ
as I realized I was living as a spoiled and selfish prodigal and realized I needed to find a way to come back to the Good Father who was waiting to restore me in my
relationship as His child. I have felt
the presence of the Risen Christ as He walked beside me on my pathways of
confusion and wondering. I have felt the presence of Christ in the gift of
marriage to my blessed wife and I have felt the presence of Christ as we were
given children to love and fill up our home.
All
of a sudden the list becomes incredibly long with countless events,
indescribable and significant in His continuous presence as He has never left me and so wonderful in supplying His loving grace for every need over the many years of our relationship.
I thought of His power and mercy through all of these occurrences. I am always left with deep gratitude that I cannot
adequately express in the form of thoughts and words. If I start to think of all Jesus Christ my
Lord and Savior has done for me … I am reduced to repeating a simple phrase springing up and overflowing in thankfulness. I can
only say, “Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord.
Thank you.”
When
do you or did you; feel the presence of Christ? Start a list in your mind of the moments and occurrences when
you felt Him near. Ponder His hand of mercy, grace and power in your life and
try to answer the question about when was He present in your life. I think gratitude
will began to pour forth from your heart as well, as you say, “Thank you, Jesus. Thank
you, Lord. Thank you.”
Suggested
Reading … John 13
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