How special it is to regularly meet to fellowship, groan or giggle with, support, and sit at God’s feet with fellow saints to hear His words. To see and hear the family is – family!
I miss so much of what has made church a rich, rich experience for me and for most. I miss singing together! I miss our laughter. I miss seeing families lined up on pews to worship. I miss my SS class – 3-5 grade boys and Mr. Lane. I miss smiles and touches. I miss engaging new ones. I miss offertories. I miss you!
When we are allowed to gather again, they say it will not be as before – at least for some time. They talk about every other pew or 50 max in a group and/or no handshakes or hugs. All those ideas stink to me, but if we can gather as that to start with, I’m game.
As I think about people, I think about relationships and fellowships. I think about Jesus. When we think of His troop we readily think of His 12. Then we remember the three within the twelve. You know – Peter, James, and John – who were with Him when He raised Jarius’ daughter, and on the Mountain seeing Moses and Elijah, and were drawn deeper into the garden in His night of terror.
And then there is the one: John. He was leaning on Jesus in the upper room, was given Mary, the mother of Jesus, and by inspiration was declared to be “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” John 21:20.
Jesus also had the bigger groups. Luke 10 reported that Jesus sent out 70 two-by-two. Luke 8:1-3 notes that many traveled along with Him and the twelve. So Jesus had a large group enfolding the twelve. And then there were the masses – the nameless hordes.
It seems to me that these five “groups” should mark every person. That is, each should embrace that they are part of a “mob” – a community/citizenship, a work force, or the fan base of a team. It seems that every person should have about 70 people in their world whom they know – know their name, their fame, their needs, and/or their clan (family). I think you should know about 70 in your church in such a way.
Jumping over the 12, I think of the three and the one. I need the three – like stretcher-bearers. I need people who are near and dear to Jesus to carry me to Jesus and to give me verses and hugs. I need the three in special times.
And then the one – the one who knows my heartbeat: my anger level, my fears, my pain. I give that one the right and authority to speak into my life: to bark or even bite at me. I need to be accountable and vulnerable. I need that one to give check and balance to my life.
And then the twelve. I need the small group that comes to be knit together in special ways for service, study, fellowship, and ministry. It seems to me that every Christian needs to be in a small group – a Life Group. It means joining an existing group or starting a new one (when we can do so). It may mean a group that meets at a weird hour. Whatever. It is my desire that you are in a group and it is my will to make such a group work for you. Let me know!
So – your life? Your one? Your three (or four)? Your 12? Your 70? Your crowd?
Let us be rich in relationships that function well and are used by God to His glory and for our good!
a PK Musing 
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