A Watchful Eye – September 16, 2023

[Jesus said] “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 18:19,20

A Watchful Eye

Philip Melanchthon, one of Martin Luther’s friends and fellow teachers, pointed out: “To be present everywhere, to answer prayer, and to bring help everywhere—these are properties of…God himself.” Therefore, Jesus is declaring to us in these verses that he is truly God. We can trust his promise that he is with us because as the exalted Son of God he now “fills the whole universe” (Ephesians 4:10). We are assured that as the almighty God there is nothing that is impossible for him as he always acts for our greatest good.

Jesus is with us individually. He assures us, “Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Jesus is with his believers when they gather together as his church on earth. Yes, we are assured of his abiding presence when we meet in his name to study and learn his word, to pray and worship together, to plan and carry out his commission of making disciples, to proclaim the good news to people that their guilt of sin is washed away by the blood of Christ, to encourage each other to keep our focus on Jesus with the confidence that he will not forsake us and with the joy of knowing that he is coming back to take us to be with him in heaven.

The gospel ministry that believers do together on earth always goes on under Jesus’ watchful eye and with his powerful presence. Therefore, we will not despair, but all the more dedicate ourselves to the work he has given us as his church.

Prayer:
Jesus, keep me faithful to your word. Encouraged by your abiding presence, help me plan, and carry out your work of proclaiming the good news of salvation to the whole world. Amen.