June 10, 2015

“With You”

By John Listen

Most of us have friends, acquaintances, family members, people we truly enjoy being with. Taking it up a level, do you have someone—a spouse, a companion, a very dear friend—about whom you could say, “I want to be with you 24 hours a day”? Jesus wants to be with us 24 hours a day—and not just for a while, not just for the rest of this life, but for eternity. (There’s the “eternity” word again, which we can grasp no more than an ant can grasp the width of the sea.)

It’s an amazing thought, how much God loves us and enjoys being with us. Indeed, “Emmanuel” means “God with us.”

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.—Matthew 1:23

Are there other verses in the Bible about Jesus being with us, even wanting to be with us?

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.—Matthew 18:20

I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.—Matthew 28:20

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.—John 14:3

Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.—John 17:24

But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.—Matthew 26:29

With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer.—Luke 22:15

Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.—Luke 23:43

While they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.—Luke 24:15

The Father … shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever … ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.—John 14:16–17

I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.—John 14:20

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.—John 14:21

If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.—John 14:23

Abide in me, and I in you.—John 15:4

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. … And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.—John 1:12, 14

Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. … Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.—Romans 8:15; Ephesians 1:5

Their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.—Matthew 18:10

I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.—Acts 2:25

And the hand of the Lord was with them.—Acts 11:21

For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee.—Acts 18:10

What wonderful thoughts, and assurances of Jesus’ love for us, and even prayers to be with us. The above verses are all from the New Testament. Was this close relationship on God’s mind from the very beginning, even in the Old Testament?

They heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.—Genesis 3:8

Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee.—Genesis 26:3

Fear not, for I am with thee.—Genesis 26:24

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest.—Genesis 28:15

Certainly I will be with thee.—Exodus 3:12

My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.—Exodus 33:14

For the LORD thy God is with thee.—Deuteronomy 20:1

The LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.—Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.—Joshua 1:9

Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee.—1 Chronicles 22:16

Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.—1 Chronicles 28:20

He that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.—Job 36:4

I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. … Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.—Psalm 16:8, 11

For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.—Psalm 36:9

Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.—Psalm 73:23

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?—Psalm 118:6

When I awake, I am still with thee.—Psalm 139:18

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God.—Isaiah 41:10

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.—Isaiah 43:2

Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.—Jeremiah 1:8

They shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.—Jeremiah 15:20

For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee.—Jeremiah 30:11

Then spake Haggai … the LORD’S message unto the people, saying, “I am with you … Be strong, all ye people of the land … and work: for I am with you,” saith the LORD of hosts.—Haggai 1:13; 2:4

So from the beginning, this was God’s great goal, desire, and plan—ultimately proven and made possible by Jesus’ death on the cross. Praise the Lord for His constant, loving, and unfailing presence!

The God of love and peace shall be with you.—2 Corinthians 13:11

Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.—Revelation 21:3

Posted in: bible, encouragement, guest contribution, reflection, relationship with the lord

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“With You”

By John Listen

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