I am having surgery done on my eye on July 14 to deal with a cataract and put in a new lens to improve my vision. July 14 is also the birthday of my pastor and mentor and the man who became like a second dad to me: Pastor Alvin Grothe. He would have been 100 years old this year. It seems appropriate that my physical vision might be improved on his birthday. God used him in wonderful ways to improve my spiritual vision.

A good spiritual mentor helps you see Jesus more clearly. Pastor Grothe helped me to see that the Lord is gracious and loving, kind and compassionate, gentle and humble. I caught a vision of God as welcoming and someone you want to go to. Pastor’s quickness to smile and laugh helped me see the joy of the Lord.

Hebrews 12:2 encourages us to “fix our eyes on Jesus.” Seeing Him clearly helps us endure trials and not grow weary and not lose heart.

We don’t need to see a list of good rules to live by or inspirational good advice. We need to see Jesus.

Soon after Pastor began serving at Bethany he had us sing at the start of each worship service: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

Through his life, his example, the way he loved and encouraged me, Pastor turned my eyes upon Jesus.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to have my physical vision improved, but I’m even more thankful for God’s gracious work to help me see Jesus.

Less than 20 of us were gathered together on a Saturday evening in a living room/dining room area. We were in Santiago, Chile, having a worship service in the home of Pastor Patricio and praying about the start of a new Free Lutheran congregation there. Earlier in our trip we had visited Santiago’s Metropolitan Cathedral. Our setting on Saturday evening didn’t resemble that impressive structure. And yet the Lord Jesus was there.

We celebrated Holy Communion that evening. The elements were simple but the experience was special. As Lutherans we believe in the “real presence” of Christ when we partake of the Lord’s Supper. The Lord is present in the elements for He said, “This is my body … This is my blood” (Matthew 26:26-28). We can be encouraged that the Lord who died for our sins, who defeated death and lives forever is really present. He was present with our small group, in that simple setting in Chile.

In the context of teaching about the church’s authority to declare the law and the good news of forgiveness Jesus promised, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). He was there in Chile. As they begin a new congregation, they are far away from other Free Lutheran congregations. They might seem like a small group that is all alone. But the Lord Jesus is present and with them.

As we live our daily lives, we are rarely, if ever, in ornate cathedrals doing impressive religious deeds. But, as we care for our families and friends, as we gather around God’s Word, as we have simple worship services, often with a relatively small number of people, the King of kings and the Lord of lords is really present. The world might not be impressed with our numbers or our settings, but that doesn’t matter so much to the Lord. He delights in being with His congregations. He graciously comes and lives with and among His people. Congregations that are trusting in Jesus, no matter where in the world they are or how large or small they are, go forward with confidence and hope knowing that the Lord is with them.