“For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:20 NLT)

The day dawned sunny and bright. Though it was still chilly, it was a perfect Saturday morning to walk the three-quarters of a mile to my favourite coffee shop. Though seating is still limited because of COVID-19 restrictions, morning is the best time to find a quiet table toward the back of the coffee shop. I love to sit quietly and read a book while enjoying my hot beverage. That day, I had also included my Bible Study Fellowship lesson in my tote bag. After ordering my latte and scone, I headed toward my quiet table.

As I walked past a booth, I noticed a young man intently jotting things down in a notebook with an open — what? A Bible? — on the table beside him. A standard Bible is quite identifiable with its pages formatted in two columns with chapters and verses. Better yet is a Bible generously marked up with neat underlining and scribbled notes in the margins. So, I was pretty sure that this young man was studying his Bible.

Pausing as I walked by, I asked, “Excuse me, but are you doing a Bible study?” “Yes,” he replied. “This is my Bible Study Fellowship lesson. It’s great!” Smiling as I pulled the matching lesson out of my bag, I said, “Ah, yes! Genesis 36 this week, right?” How serendipitous to cross paths with someone else who is involved in the same well-known international Bible study that I am!

As we briefly talked, I felt as though we were two tiny lights shining for Christ in a dark world. The glow began to grow as we shared our common love for Him. Even if no one else around us knew anything about this bonding of hearts in Christian love, it was as though we had formed a tiny church of two in the middle of the coffee shop.

Though I am still “attending” church online, what an encouragement it was to find a fellow believer in my everyday world. As I watched Wayne walk out of the coffee shop a short time later, I knew that God had orchestrated our schedules and our itinerary for the day so that we two strangers could briefly meet and glorify Him together.

Let’s be mindful and alert as we travel through life, noticing others around us. Sometimes, we can say a word for Jesus to an unbeliever that will bring honour to Him. Other times, we can encourage another fellow believer whom God places in our path. Let’s keep our minds, hearts, and eyes open so that we can see others as God sees them.

Prayer: Dear loving heavenly Father, thank You that believers, though strangers to one another, can have an instant bond of fellowship. May we always be ready to encourage one another in the midst of our dark world. Amen.

Gail Lundquist
Beaverton, Oregon, USA

Reprinted with author’s permission from PresbyCan Daily Devotionals