When are friends more than friends? When they gather in the name of Jesus, and he meets with them there. Matthew 18:6-25 is a powerful description of the kind of fellowship that exists when we truly follow Jesus and love our brothers and sisters as Jesus does. Forgiveness, discipline, restoration, rescue, and welcome mark such fellowship. They are also signs of Jesus’ presence, because he is our great example and the power behind such fellowship. When two or three who share this kind of fellowship gather, Jesus IS present!Father, thank you for sending your Son, not just to minister on earth during his incarnation, but also to bless us with his presence during our fellowship while he is now at home with you in glory. Open our hearts to rejoice in Jesus’ presence as we meet with brothers and sisters who share our faith and live in commitment to seek the best in each other’s lives in fellowship and love. In the name of the Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Matthew 18:20 — Today’s Verse for Thursday, September 18, 2025
