Daily Devotions
“O let the harps break forth in sound! Our joy be all with music crowned, Our voices gladly blending! For Christ goes with us all the way—Today, tomorrow, ev’ry day! His love is never ending! Sing out! Ring out! Jubilation! Exultation! Tell the story! Great is He, the King of Glory!”
There are times when we may want to join the psalmist in his despairing prayer: “How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1). When we face illness or grief or just day-to-day weariness, we may cry out to the Lord to ask, even demand, “Why don’t You do something, Lord? Where are You?” Our hymn answers that question with words that echo the promise of God’s presence so often repeated in His Word: “For Christ goes with us all the way—today, tomorrow, ev’ry day! His love is never ending!”
So where is Jesus “today, tomorrow, ev’ry day”? He is right beside us, where He always has been and always will be. His never-ending love for us stretches from eternity to eternity. Before He created the world, God chose us in Christ Jesus to be His own precious sons and daughters. Jesus’ love will carry us through this earthly life until we live forever in His presence.
Jesus’ presence with us was foretold by the prophet Isaiah. The virgin-born Son of God would be called Emmanuel, a name that means “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14b; Matthew 1:23b). Jesus, God with us, became like us in every way, although without sin, so that by His death “He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14b). “Christ goes with us all the way.” For us He went into death and rose from death. When He returns on the Last Day, all who trust in Him will be raised bodily from the grave as He was raised and “so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17b).
The risen Lord promised, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b). We can take Him at His word. We may not “feel” His presence in some mysterious way, but we have His promise. Jesus is present with us, just as He said He would be. We have His word on it, and that is enough. His love for us is the love that took Him to the cross and brought Him triumphant from the tomb. Our hymn continues: “Jubilation! Exultation! Tell the story!” The story we have to tell is the story of Jesus, who “goes with us all the way” today, tomorrow, and through eternity. It is the story to celebrate and share. It is the story of love that never ends.
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, I trust Your promise. You are with me today and always. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright,” which is number 395 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. How is being a good and faithful friend to someone being like Jesus?
2. Why is the name of Emmanuel, “God with us,” fitting for Jesus?
3. How does knowing Jesus is with us “to the end of the age” comfort you here and now?