Monday, June 13, 2005

"I Will Be With You"

"Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you" (Genesis 26:3).

Last month Brooksyne and I celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary. Our daughter Ester worked very hard and surprised us with a beautiful Powerpoint presentation using "I will be here", a love song by musician Steven Curtis Chapman as a background. Have you considered what a blessing it is to hear, "I will be with you!"  I have been richly blessed with a faithful wife and many loyal friends through the years who have expressed this and meant it. That's a real treasure.

But the greatest blessing of promised presence is from God Himself.  Isaac was the first person recorded in the Bible to hear these words from God, "I will be with you."  They came at a time of transition as God was directing Isaac to Egypt due to a famine. 

Throughout life we find great assurance in the promise of God's steadfast presence and this is especially appreciated during life's inevitable transitions.  Some of you undoubtedly are going through such a transition today.  It may be a graduation or a career move, an illness or even the death of a loved one.  For some it's a new baby, for others it's the "empty nest".

Throughout the Old Testament God also gave these words of assurance to Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Gideon and Solomon.*  However one Old Testament reference that I especially find assuring is not a promise to an individual, but to all of God's people (Isaiah 43:2).  "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you."

Jesus promised His disciples before His ascension that, "I am with you always even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).  The writer of Hebrews has a promise that I memorized early as a believer.  He quotes a compilation of several Old Testament verses in encouraging the early believers who were enduring much affliction. "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.  The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5, 6).

Today I urge you to hide these words of assurance deep in your heart as you contemplate God's steadfast promise, "I will be with you".


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

Brooksyne's Note: In reviewing the theme verse of our encouragement today it reminds me that God's blessings are a direct result of our obedience.  Our growing relationship with God is not based upon what family we came from, how connected we are with our church denomination, how successful we are in the business world or really how knowledgeable or resourceful we are.  When we listen for God's voice, hear the direction He gives us as we wait upon Him and then move forward in obedience we are assured of His blessing.   There is no other blessing on earth equal to the blessing that God gives to His children.  "God help us to walk in obedience to You as we listen for your daily direction in our lives.  Amen."

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