I used to teach a small group of
adults at my church. We met every Sunday
night in a different person’s home, and would spend time eating a meal
together, and discussing a passage of Scripture. I remember one particular
evening, we were all in a funk — all of us.
It was winter, dark early, cold, snowy, and one of those nights when it
would have been easy to just stay home. We talked about the struggle we each
had getting up the energy to walk out the door to our cars and come to our group.
Even though most of us felt the same on this particular night, we were all
there.
So we all had a weak moment
together. It was highly unusual for us
all to feel the same way, so we began to talk about why we had come. Someone
said guilt, which I totally resonated with.
Another said they had come out of obligation. And another said they
missed the week before, and they just didn’t want to miss two weeks in a row. One
person blurted out, I didn’t want to come, but my wife made me, so I put on my
pants and just showed up!
“I just showed up.” I think there
is something to be said about “showing up.” Now, I don’t mean to over
spiritualize this, but that evening turned out to be one of the most meaningful
conversations we had in weeks, talking about what it meant to be faithful to
each other, to be accountable to a group of people, and that we were better
people because we showed up. It probably
goes without saying that after that evening, no one wanted to miss, simply
because we showed up.
Well, this weekend and next week
is revival. I’m not certain about what God wants to say to us this week. I know
we all have very busy schedules, and it isn’t possible for us to attend every
evening service. I’m not going to take
attendance, and I don’t think God will either. I’m neither one who believes
that God is limited to working in certain designated spaces. In reality, there
is nothing special about a space; but there is about those who gather in the
space.
What I think I’m trying to say is
that something happens when we gather. Something does happen when we “show up.”
Just like it did for my small group that Sunday evening some two years ago, I
believe that God has something in mind for us this next week. Because when we
show up, we can be assured he is always there waiting for us. In the meantime,
will you help us all prepare by praying?
Pray for Susie Shellenberger,
that the message God has laid on her heart is straight from His heart to ours,
through her.
Pray for Kyle Owens as he leads
worship in chapel in the mornings, and in the evening services at College
Church.
Pray for Kendall Franklin, and
the staff at College Church.
Pray for those among us whose
relationship with God has yet to be restored.
Pray for renewal for our campus.
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