After an accident in which she lost her arm, a girl named Jamie refused to go to school or church for an entire year. Finally the young girl thought she could face her peers. In preparation, her mother called her Sunday school teacher and asked that she not call attention to Jamie. The teacher promised, but when she got sick on Sunday and had to call a substitute, she forgot to tell the second teacher. At the conclusion of the lesson that day, which was about inviting friends to church, the sub led the class in doing the hand motions to the familiar children’s poem: “Here’s the church. Here’s the steeple. Open the doors. See all the people.” Jamie’s eyes filled with tears. A little boy, sitting close to her , realized how she must be feeling. He went and knelt beside her. With one hand apiece, they supported each other, making the church, steeple, and people. Together they illustrated what real church is.
I have worshiped with several churches that have a special prayer time where church leaders make themselves available to others for prayer about a situation in the life of the hurting Christian. It is a great time in the assembly.
However, I must confess i didn’t use that time to the fullest. I would see people around the the room, who do not go to one of the leaders, yet sit there with tears in their eyes. I needed to have the courage of the young lad and go to that person and see if I can help. And, with help of the Lord, I will begin doing that in those types of situations.
Some of the best time that we have together is before and after the assembly. I know we love to chat and catch up with each other and that is good. But I wonder if we could go to the next step and not just ask how each other is getting along, but pray for each other also. That special prayer time will bind us together in a deeper relationship.
Let’s illustrate to others what the Lord’s church is all about.
-David