What are you looking for when you gather with others in my name? Is it important to you that I show up too? If this is what your heart hungers for, then you will be disappointed if it doesn’t happen, no matter what else happens. If you are indifferent to my presence then other things take on more significance. I have promised to be with even 2 or 3 who are gathered in my name. Yet beyond this, you have my promises that if you seek you will find, and that if you hunger and thirst after righteousness you will be filled. Invite me to your meetings. If this is your only desire you can be sure that I seek such to worship me and I will come. 

My word cautions you about making oaths. It is better that you not make an oath than that your oath be false. Have you ever made a firm declaration that you will never do a certain thing? You may not consider this an oath depending on the language you use, but what else would it be? Have you ever done something you said you never would? That thing may not be inherently evil, but going against your stated intentions will leave you conflicted either way. This disconnect can come through your weaknesses, or from coming to greater understanding and maturity. It is an expression of humility to refrain from making promises about what you will or won’t do. 

A woman with a bad reputation came and washed my feet. The religious leaders present said among themselves that I must not be a prophet, for if I were I would have known what sort of woman she was, and by implication would not have tolerated contact with her. This exposes their faulty assumptions and reasoning. What if I really was a prophet and did know what sort of woman she was? This reframes the question and moves it to a higher level. I was able to minister to this woman by accepting her and receiving ministry from her even though I knew her reputation. Can you minister by receiving ministry the same way?

[leaving town for a few days]

Are you looking for a safe place? You face dangerous risks and hostility in the world, so it is only normal for you to desire a place of refuge. Yet it is not enough for you to be free of active threats. What your heart longs for is love and acceptance. You can avoid danger and still be isolated and lonely. The desire to overcome these things is strong enough to make you go out and take the risk of being hurt. My word speaks of me as being a refuge. Do you understand that this is in the larger sense that is more than protection against threats? Come to me for love and acceptance for I will never hurt you.