May 10, 2015: Matthew 28:16-20

We encourage you to read this devotion three times a day.  Start in the morning and reflect upon the morning reflection question. Then in the afternoon, read it again and reflect using the noon question for reflection.  For the evening, take time to ponder how this has resonated with you in the day and reflecting using the evening question.  We offer a prayer with each devotion for you to pray or we invite you to pray what is in your heart.

Matthew 28:16-20

¹⁶Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Reflection:

            I taught a young adult class that met each week. Every session we would begin by sharing our Joy, Junk, and Jesus. It is a Christian version of games like High/Low or the Peak and the Pit. We would share our Joy of the week: the best thing that happened to us, our junk: the low point of our week or a struggle we were dealing with, and our Jesus: a place where we saw Jesus that week. Knowing that we would share a Jesus moment every Monday trained us to be aware of Christ's presence with us throughout the week.

            We cannot see God and this is a struggle of faith for some, even for some very devoted people. I am sure that it was a struggle for the disciples who had followed Jesus for three years to be told that as they continued their ministry they would not be able to see Jesus with them every day. However, Jesus gives the disciples, and us, these words of comfort: I am with you always, to the end of the age. It is a beautiful promise: through our joys and junk, triumphs and letdowns, where we go, Jesus Christ is with us. I invite you to look for Jesus this and every week.

Reflection Questions:

Morning: What was your joy this week? How was God present?

Noon: What was your junk this week? How was God present in this difficult or disappointing time?

Evening: Where did you see Jesus this week? It may be in a high, a low, or a seemingly mundane moment because Jesus is constantly present.

Prayer: Holy God, thank you that we do not go through life alone; we have a constant companion in Jesus Christ. Help me to be more aware of Jesus' presence in my life, at all times and in all places. In Jesus' name, Amen.