Surely I Am With You Always: Knowing God

As you’re talking with a friend, your conversation turns toward the perfect segue you could use to share the Gospel.  Yet in the mere seconds you have to speak, your tongue turns mute and your brain melts into putty. Before you can fully grasp the words, your friend resumes talking and the conversation swerves away in the other direction.  

Believe me, this kind of scene can happen daily for Christians.  Without the courage to speak, this information doesn’t get anywhere beyond ourselves.  

So how do we get courage?  How do we spread the Word as is the call of all Jesus-followers?  

Matthew 28:16-20 says, “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Meanwhile, in Deuteronomy 31:6, we are told, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

In both passages, we see that the call of God is always accompanied with some statement about God.  Jesus told the disciples to make disciples only after he had reminded them that He is in control. Why should we be strong and courageous?  We should be strong because the Lord is with us, and He will not forsake us. We are not called to spread the Word on our own, to depend on ourselves for courage. 

The root of this issue, the lack of courage, is clear.  If I am afraid to share the Gospel, it is because I do not truly know who God is.  If I do know God, then I know I don’t have to be afraid.

How much fear I have is inextricably linked to how well I know the Father.

God has blessed us with access to Him through many ways, including daily actions like reading His Word, praying, or serving Him through the church.  These serve to remind us of who God is. Even something as simple as wearing an encouraging Bible verse on one’s shirt can help do this. The perfect example of this is our faith over fear collection  or faith can move mountains collection.  The next time you talk with a friend and feel the urge to speak about the Gospel, 

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”