God goes with you!

Rev. Paul Zabel

by Paul Zabel

“Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations; His marvelous works among all the peoples!” (1 Chronicles 16:23-24).

A man who was very indifferent to the church and the ways of Christian living once criticized his neighbour who was a regular church attendee, calling him an ordinary, everyday Christian. What he thought was a profound complaint, however, was not. For that is exactly what a Christian really ought to be—an ordinary, everyday Christian.

Have you ever noticed a sign in some store of the city, town or village in which you live that reads, “Experienced help wanted. Full-time workers only need apply.” Perhaps when you did, you were reminded of the fact that there should be no such a thing as a part-time helper in the Master’s work. Ours is full-time service, regardless of what our occupation might be. For whatever we are doing, there are opportunities of witnessing on behalf of the Lord Jesus we love.

Ours is full-time service, regardless of what our occupation might be. For whatever we are doing, there are opportunities of witnessing on behalf of the Lord Jesus we love.

So many of us are poor examples of the Christian faith. During the Worship Service on Sunday mornings we profess what we believe, but in everyday living we are beset by fears, anxieties, and worries as to how we ought to live out our faith in our interactions with those we come in contact with, both on a regular and irregular basis. If our partnership with God is real, this should not happen, because then we know He is always with us. And if He is, there is nothing to fear.

A young boy once planned to make a visit to a friend who lived just two streets behind his own home. Although his mother carefully instructed him how to reach his intended destination, at the last minute before he was to set off on his initial journey on his own, he became just a little bit frightened. “Mom, it’s a long way and I don’t know the way too well,” said the boy. “I am not exactly afraid, Mom, but would you go along part of the way with me?” His mother understanding his fears and doubts took his hand in hers and said, “My son, I will go all the way with you.”

God stands ready to go all the way with us. He does not ask us to take one step alone. In fact, He loves us so much that He sent His Son, our Lord Jesus, to suffer and die on the cross for us that we might have the forgiveness of our sins, life and salvation. All He asks in return, as our part of the partnership, is to walk the road of consistent Christian living day by day. And if we become distracted, fall down along the way, and even if we don’t follow His directions and become lost as we are on our everyday journey, He will always be there to pick us up, forgive us for our failure to follow His directions, dust us off, and set us on the corrected path once again!

———————

Rev. Paul Zabel is President of the East District of Lutheran Church–Canada.

Print this article