When I speak of walking with Jesus, my idea is helped by considering how it was with His first disciples—they lived in His presence! While He stayed in a place—they stayed; and when He moved—they went with Him. Having Him thus always near, always in view—the sight of Him undoubtedly gave a composure to their whole behavior; and was a check upon their eyes, their tongues, and their actions!

When they had hard questions upon their minds—they did not puzzle themselves with vain reasonings. When they were in need—they looked to Him for a supply. When they had difficulties and dangers—they little doubted of deliverance, knowing that He was with them.

Just so, I need a faith that shall have such an abiding, experimental conviction of His nearness and presence—as if I actually saw Him! “Lord, increase my faith!”

Surely, if He were now upon earth, and I expected a visit from Him this afternoon—my heart would bound at the thought! With what a mixture of joy and fear would I open the door to receive Him! How cautious would I be—not to do or say anything that might grieve Him, and shorten His stay with me! And how gladly, if He gave me permission to speak, would I catch the opportunity of telling Him all my concerns! Surely I would be unwilling to let Him go—until He had healed the wounds in my soul, and renewed my spiritual strength; until He had taught me better how to serve Him, and promised to support me in His service. And if I heard Him say, with an audible voice, “Though they fight against you—they shall not prevail, for I am always with you to deliver you!” I would bid adieu to fear!

But, alas, my unbelieving heart! Are not these things true, even at present? Is He not as near and as kind? Have I not the same reasons and the same encouragement to set Him always before me—and to tell Him . . .
  all my needs,
  all my fears, and
  all my troubles—
as if I saw Him with my bodily eyes! –From the Letters of John Newton

  Here is something you can be sure of——“I am with you always—even to the end of the world!” Matthew 28:20

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.–Colossians 1:15

Pastor Jack Graham said,”I recently read a survey that asked people who they believe is the greatest man or woman in the history of a mankind. And at the very top of the list of the ten greatest people in human history was Jesus Christ.

Now while I’m sure that survey made some people feel good, I don’t believe you can list Jesus Christ with any other group of human beings. He’s not Jesus Christ the greatest; he is Jesus Christ the only… the firstborn over all creation who created the world and everything in it!

But I want to ask you, is Jesus great in your life? Have you invited Him into your heart to take His place as King of kings and Lord of lords? Is He fully King in your life, or does He just have a spot at the table with other idols you are living to serve?

Jesus Christ is a great man… but He’s so much more. He is the preeminent King and the God of the universe. So don’t just give Him a seat at the table of your life. Make Him first and foremost by worshipping and honoring Him with your entire life!”

Unless Christ is preeminent He is not in His proper place. He is out of place unless He is in first place. Will you put Him first in your life?

“Then shalt thou walk in thy way of safety, and thy foot shall not stumble”   (Proverbs 3:23). That is to say, if we follow the ways of wisdom and holiness we shall be preserved in them. He who travels by daylight along the highway is under some protection. There is a way for every man, namely, his own proper calling in life, and if we devoutly walk therein in the fear of God He will preserve us from evil. We may not travel luxuriously, but we shall walk safely. We may not be able to run like young men, but we shall be able to walk like good men.

Our greatest danger lies in ourselves: our feeble foot is so sadly apt to stumble. Let us ask for more moral strength that our tendency to slip may be overcome. Some stumble because they do not see the stone in the way: divine grace enables us to perceive sin and so to avoid it. Let us plead this promise and trust in Him who upholds His chosen.

Alas! Our worst peril is our own carelessness, but against this the LORD Jesus has put us on our guard, saying, “Watch and pray.”

Oh, for grace to walk this day without a single stumble! It is not enough that we do not actually fall; our cry should be that we may not make the smallest slip with out feet but may at the last adore Him “who is able to keep us from stumbling.” (From “Faith’s Checkbook”)

LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.–Psalm 90:1

Man’s relationship with God is depicted in many ways—Father and child, King and subject, Shepherd and sheep, etc., but seldom do we ever think of it as it is  pictured here. Our text pictures God as our dwelling place, our home. The word “home” is one of the sweetest words in the world. It speaks of a place of love, shelter, safety, companionship, and provision, etc.

Sometimes we use this word to describe how we feel with certain people. In their presence we “feel right at home”, we say. Often we use this word in reference to our family, where we find unconditional love, unending support,etc. That’s the way families should be. I read of one preacher who referred to his church as “The home of the soul”, and I know what he means. A church should function as a family, but even the church is no match for Christ Himself.

The Bible says of the Christian,”..your life is hid with Christ in God”,(Colossians 3:3). What a place to be! Man can find the deepest longing of his soul, the source of his greatest satisfaction that he yearns for only in Christ. It is in personal communion with Him that we find our greatest delight, our fullest joy, and perfect peace. No church, no family, no friend can take the place of Him. Not even heaven itself, without Christ, can afford what we have in Christ. He is our perpetual source of security and satisfaction. Everything we need is rooted in our relationship with Him.

—But when he was yet a great way off-–Luke 15;20

All of us can think of someone in need of being reconciled to God–someone who is yet a great way off. It might be that they have realized their need and resolved to come to God, but are “yet a great way off”. And, although closer than they were they are no better off. All is not well until reconciliation has been secured. Whether on the road to the “far country”, in the pig pen, or on the way home there is no embrace by the father, no robe for his back, no ring on his finger, no shoes on his feet, and no banquet celebrating his return.

Of his own volition he broke fellowship with his father and left. He could have stayed of returned at any moment. Now he is headed in the right direction, but “a great way off” and could turn on his heels at anytime. It was not until he and the father were reconciled that you could say all was well. Until then anything could happen.

Even so, it might be that some of you have given up hope of your loved one ever coming to God — after all, they seem such “a great way off”. Their situation doesn’t appear possible–it is against all odds. In your mind all hope is gone. You’ve written them off as a “hopeless case”. But why? The story of the prodigal should give you a window of hope. Do not despair! God is at work. He is actively involved in each life and willing to accept all who receive Him.

We too often focus on what the person is or isn’t doing, rather than reminding ourselves that God is doing something. That’s why we get discouraged so easily. As long as your loved one is alive the last chapter of their life hasn’t been written. Why should you believe the worst will happen? Is it not much more likely that God will intervene, bless your efforts, and answer your prayers? Although they are blinded to the truth He can open the eyes of their understanding (Ephesians 1:18) and bring them to repentance. Your loved one might yet be a “great way off”, but they might be much closer than you think to that glorious encounter with God that will change their life forever –maybe just a step away! Don’t give up!