Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Matthew 24:45-46
These verses are in the context of Jesus’ second coming yet they also hold another truth, servants who are faithful and wise will continue to fulfil their tasks reliably, even when they aren’t being watched.
Over the years, theologians have used the Latin phrase, ‘Coram Deo’, meaning ‘in the presence of God’ to express the idea that we live our lives in front of an unseen audience of one. Realising God’s omnipresence provides the motivation to live a life pleasing to him. There’s nowhere that’s off-limits to God. Our exchanges with our friends, our interaction with our families, how we spend our time when we’re alone, are all Coram Deo.
When we become aware of the presence of God, we also become aware of his sovereignty and his holiness. There are several accounts of people in the Bible suddenly becoming aware of the presence of God. Isaiah in the temple (Isaiah 6:5), Peter following the large catch of fish (Luke 5:8), Paul on the Damascus road (Acts 9:4) and John on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:17), all their reactions suggest they were overwhelmed with both the sovereignty and holiness of God.
In each of these instances, God was quick to relieve their fears. God doesn’t want his people living in fear of reprimand. His presence is a loving presence which causes us to want to please him.
Are we faithful and wise servants who don’t need constant supervision and encouragement to do the ‘right’ thing?
