It’s really challenging to travel anywhere by committee. “Too many cooks in the kitchen” is the expression. I was thinking that as my mother and I drove south, two old ladies with a lead foot and no sense of direction, trying to make our way through Texas to visit my daughter. My mom was gripping the steering wheel in one hand, and a rumpled Rand McNally map in the other. My cell phone with Google Maps was going in and out of service. It’s a wonder we didn’t hit the guardrail. Instead, we zig-zagged through Texas, first one way, then turning the other. We finally arrived – albeit four hours later than we planned.
To read the Bible alone is one type of experience. But to read it in the company of others as we do, standing in awe of it, praying, and singing – this is a group experience thousands of years old that we continually return to.
Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. Nehemiah 8:5-6 NIV
From this public reading, we moved into the actual formation of a Church — a group that helps us form a real identity together. It reminds us what project we are called to as a family in Christ. Yes, we are sometimes individuals on a solitary mission, but how much more do we benefit from belonging together; working with inspired leadership that is so rooted in God’s word.
“Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:3-4 NIV
And that leads us to Jesus, in whom that Word becomes a living, breathing reality.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
This is how we travel together. It is not traveling by committee. It is traveling as a community, formed in the Word.
This week, take a scripture you are most familiar with, or something you are learning, and try reading it aloud with someone you are in community with!
Carie
