Would you be present next time the church meets if you knew Jesus would be here? I doubt that many would claim “I was providentially hindered”! Jesus drew “standing room only” crowds in first-century Palestine. Undoubtedly He would do the same here today.
Imagine Jesus leading singing. Surely your mind wouldn’t wander, but you would sing enthusiastically, hanging on to every precious word. You truly would sing in spirit and in truth.
What if Jesus led the opening prayer? Think how fervently you would be praying as you made His prayer your own. Oh, what a prayer that would be!
Now picture Jesus serving communion. He blesses the bread and hands it to you. As you break off a piece, you see the nail prints in His hands, and your heart is broken afresh that He had to bear your sins on Calvary. A little later He gives you the fruit of the vine, and you remember with profound gratitude His blood that He shed for your redemption.
This next part could be embarrassing! What if Jesus received the offering? Would it make any difference in the amount you give? Could you look the Lord in the eye cheerfully as you place your gift in the plate?
If Jesus got up to preach, you would likely join all the others in listening intently and taking notes. If would matter not at all if He spoke past the scheduled time. Indeed, whenever He stopped, you would wish He would continue. The words of God would refresh your soul and renew your determination to walk in the light.
If we knew Jesus would be here, I suspect that all of the morning crowd would return tonight. Who cares that we’ve already met once today? The Lord will be here, and we wouldn’t miss that!
Yes, what if Jesus came to church? You already know what I’m going to say next: He’s here every time we meet!
–Joe Slater
