Presence!

Presence!

For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them. Matthew 18:20 NET

Context: Jesus was speaking here to his disciples, not to the crowd who usually followed him everywhere He went. As always, the instructions of Jesus are not compulsory to those who have not submitted to Him. They are binding on those who have accepted Him as Lord and Saviour. That is why in the verses before today's extract, Jesus refers to those he addresses as 'brothers': bound not by the process of natural birth, but by the blood of the Lamb. So, am I a brother? The answer to this question is the foundation of today's extract.

Purpose: why is this foundation important? It is because those who represent Jesus on earth have got to show Him off. How do people come to my light if there is even no light in the first place? How do I freshen and enliven the world I live in as salt, if I have lost the saltiness? That is why the issue is not with any misunderstanding; it is about it is handled. Those who bear God's name cannot afford to allow the devil work in or through them. Those who are called by the name of the Lord shouldn't sit at the table of the devil. When I relate with my fellow brother or sister, I must remember to see through the eyes of Christ: what would He do, and how would He do it?

Fellowship: and when I carry Christ around, He is visible and audible in my life. Imagine the power that is released when I join forces with another carrier of Christ. See Paul: the impact of just one life that met with Jesus. Peter, James, John and Matthew are just a few of the names and we see their impact till now. The same applies to me too. When I come to know Christ, I come to experience His fullness. When I come in contact with another carrier, power is released in exponential measure. 

Conclusion: And when the power of Christ is present, there is no limit to what He can achieve. One will bind on earth and heaven will respond. Another will loosen the power of God over situations and heaven will respond. It is not magic; it is Christ at work. It is not manipulation; it is Christ proving that when He is in charge and allowed to work, He always comes through. There is no situation so far gone that is beyond the power of God. There is no one that is so far gone that s/he is beyond the grace of God. He waits to impact my world; he wants to celebrate me to the world. The secret: being IN Him, walking with Him, working for Him. Nothing else will work. His time of favour is here.