Surprise!

 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” 

Matthew 18:20 (NIV)

Surprise! (Matthew 18:20), 2022 

Bic Pen

9”x 12”

I reconnected with a friend from my old church a few months back. We met up at the local coffee shop to share a cup of coffee, chat, and to just generally catch up. It’s always lovely to be reunited with a long lost friend and we had a lovely visit. Upon my return home, my sister asked me, in a matter-of-fact voice, “well, was Jesus there?” Though the tone of Chelle’s delivery was serious a little glimmer of a smile gave her away. She was waiting for me to catch-up and get the punchline. “You know,” she continued on, “when two or more of you guys get together isn’t Jesus supposed to show up? Doesn’t He jump out and yell: SURPRISE, or something?” Even though it was a bit of a silly joke, I couldn’t help but laugh as I envisioned what that would look like. The idea that Jesus was waiting just around the corner to leap out and bless us with a mini surprise party warmed my heart. I had to draw this.

And Chelle wasn’t wrong. In Matthew chapter 18 Jesus says, “where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20 (NIV). This is a simple but powerful thought. Truly, just consider it for a moment; when we get together, with even one other believer, JESUS is in our midst! When you go for a hike with your girlfriend from Bible study - Jesus is there. When you go out for coffee with someone you just met last Sunday at Church - Jesus is there. Or maybe it’s brunch, or paddle boarding, or even a simple visit, with your Mom, or your neighbor, or some person you just met on the bus… JESUS COULD BE THERE! No mater how ordinary the task, or how humble the location, JESUS the King of Kings just shows up! How amazing is that? 

But, just for a little context, let’s back up for a minute. In Matthew 18 Jesus is teaching His disciples about the power of prayer in numbers, even when that number is only two. The power referenced in this teaching isn’t merely the combined human efforts of two people; but rather, that when two buddies in Christ sync-up, they literally have the full force of the power of God behind them!

“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 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 18:18-20 (NIV).

So the next time you hold hands with a friend and pray remember this amazing promise - you have the power of Heaven behind you! This week I encourage you, my art blog friend, reach out to a buddy in Christ. Pick up the phone and invite someone out for a coffee, or a hike, or lunch. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just so long as you are together. And when you meet up, remember the amazing power that the two of you hold just in being together… and get ready because Jesus is waiting there to surprise you!

P.S. It’s a fact that times have been socially difficult these last couple of years and a lot of us have become isolated (whether we wanted to be or not). If you don’t have any friends that you can call to hang out with right now, or you simply don’t have any Christian friends, I would like to encourage you to put yourself in the path of one. Your challenge this week: find a place where real Christians (those who genuinely follow the teachings of Christ) meet-up and say “Hi” to someone.  I have found that churches and soup kitchens are a great place to start a new friendship. Talking to strangers can be intimidating but you don’t have to go it alone, remember: God will be with you! Ask God to give you a spirit of courage and to bless you with a new friend and then get out there and get ready for His answer!