Excuse me, is Jesus here?

I’ve always been interested in Jesus’ statement recorded by Matthew that, “Wherever two or three of you are gathered in worship, I will be right there with you” (18:20). While the Greek text doesn’t have the word for “worship,” it is easily implied because that was the main reason for believers to gather. While the text probably pictures some judicial matter being determined, a more inclusive interpretation (scholars call it sensus plenior) helps us understand it as “gather for any purpose.” One could argue that since in scripture we repeatedly hear the assurance that God “will not leave you or forsake you” it doesn’t matter whether you have “gathered” or not.
         Picture yourself, along with a couple of good friends, on a fishing trip in northern Minnesota. You’ve just landed the biggest fish of the day. You shout, “Hey, look at this one!”
         And Jesus, with a grin, adds, “Sheer luck, Bob. I’m not impressed.”
         Wait a minute; how did Jesus get there? The answer of course is, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5). So apparently Jesus goes fishing whenever we do. If you really do accept the biblical position that Christ is always present in the life of the believer, you become increasingly aware of his companionship no matter where you are – at dinner in your favorite restaurant, on the ski slopes, during that long waiting period at the hospital, when you just had to stand there and watch your house go up in flames – it doesn’t matter, he is always there. I believe we ought to cultivate a far more sensitive awareness of the constant presence of Jesus in our life. He is still there whether we are aware of it or not.
         But now, just for a moment, think of all those times that have brought us together as believers for “worship” in that more specific sense. You may belong to a little Bible study, so when you meet why not take a couple of minutes to become more personally aware of his presence. Or you may be together socially for some reason other than worship – why not reflect on how God has brought you together with friends that mean so much to you. I’ll tell you this, if you do, you’ll just have to bring it up as the conversation continues and they will be blessed as well.
         Now lets go down to the market with all its activity – people coming and going, merchants arranging their products – and we run into a Christian friend we haven’t seen for a while. So the four of us (that’s you, me, our friend, and Jesus) have the best talk about the joy of being sons of God and how things are going. These examples of being “together” represent the many encounters each day when two believers are together and the head count is 3. It is wonderfully encouraging to rest in his promise, to become more and more aware that the One who cannot lie promises that  “wherever two or three of you are together, I will be right there with you.”  To be introduced to the man Jesus at salvation is to join an assembly that from the heart can sing
       “No, never alone,
         No, never alone;
         He promised never to leave me,
         Never to leave me alone.