Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT)

I can’t tell you how many times I have read this verse. Actually I pray it every day over me and my girls that we will go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit and we will know that Jesus is with us always.

Christians call this the Great Commission. The last recorded words of the Lord Jesus Christ before he ascended into heaven.

It has been my lifelong ambition to fulfil this last directive that Jesus gave us. As you have possibly read before in my blog, telling people about Jesus is my favourite thing and all I ever wanted to do was be a missionary and do exactly that.

But on Saturday night I had an amazing encounter while praying for the next day when I was scheduled to speak at Our Brave New Life at Camp Adair in Hunua. As I wrote last week I was so nervous about sharing with a group of people who had all suffered the death of a loved one. Those nerves never went and this was what had me in prayer the night before.

As I was praying that God would use me and speak through me to bring hope to this amazing group I clearly heard, “Be sure of this: I am with you always.”

It was so clearly spoken that it stopped me abruptly. I knelt there in awe at what I had just heard. Jesus was saying to me, “Be sure of this: I am with you always.”

Tears rolled down my face at the promise just given to me personally by my Saviour.

Throughout the night I continued to repeat those words over and over again and even when I was awoken from my sleep by teenagers coming home in the early hours of the morning, I went straight back to sleep repeating them again.

And yes, He was with me as I spoke to a most incredibly brave group of people on Sunday. I was honoured and humbled to share my story amongst a group of people who have all experienced their own incredible loss. And what a wonderful day we had together!

But what I want to encourage you all with this week is this:

Jesus says to each of you: “Be sure of this: I am with you always.”

The Cambridge dictionary states;

Sure means: to be certain; without any doubt.

Always means: every time or all the time or forever.

So Jesus is making a promise that we are to be certain and be without any doubt that he will be with each of us every time, all the time and forever.

As I stood up after being introduced, I said to Jesus in my mind, “Okay, Jesus you promised you’d be with me so let’s go.” And the nerves that had consumed me for the last couple of weeks disappeared as I walked to the front absolutely confident he was with me.

Be confident: Jesus is with you always!

He’s with you in your work place, your school room and your home.

He’s right beside you through your trial, your success, your failure and your joy.

He’s holding you through your tears, your laughter, your small talk and your deep and meaningful conversations.

He’s beside you in your arguments, your sarcasm and even when foul words come hurtling out your lips. And when you love someone, show kindness, are gentle and comfort another.

Everywhere, anywhere, and all the time – Jesus is with you no matter what!!!!

Walk confident in that promise and never fear – He is with you!!

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

Romans 8:38 (NLT)