Focusing on Titust 3:12-15, last week I wrote about those who have come alongside us in our ministries, those precious few who are especially close to us on this journey, and those that we have the opportunity to fellowship with on a daily or weekly basis. I found this story, which I think illustrates well how significant it is when we find our people.
We shall remain here with our people.
In 1773, a young pastor of a poor church in Wainsgate, England, was called to a larger church in London. It's the kind of opportunity that many ministers dream of and John Fawcett had earned it through his powerful preacher and skillful writing. But as the Fawcett's wagons were being loaded with their few belongings, their people came for a tearful farewell.
During the good-byes, Mary Fawcett cried, “John, I cannot bear to leave!” “Nor can I,” he replied. “We shall remain here with our people.” The wagons were unloaded, and John Fawcett spent his entire fifty-four-year ministry in Wainsgate with his people.
Out of that experience, Fawcett wrote the hymn, “Blest Be the Tie that Binds.”
Here's the first verse:
Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above
Verse 2 mentions prayers, fears, hopes, aims, and comforts and cares. Verse 3 mentions woes, burdens, and the sympathy we find in the body of Christ.
And then we read in verse 4:
When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.
This is how we feel when we find our people. This is how I think the Apostle Paul felt about Titus, Timothy, and others.
Have you found your people?
Have you found your people? I can tell you this, they are in the body of Christ!
In the body of Christ, we need one another because of our burdens.
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. (NASB95)
In the body of Christ, we need one another for prayer.
James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. (NASB95)
In the body of Christ, we need one another for encouragement.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. (NASB95)
In the body of Christ, we need one another for acceptance.
Romans 15:7 Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. (NASB95)
In the body of Christ, we need one another for love.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (NASB95)
In the body of Christ, we need one another for peace.
Mark 9:50 Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. (NASB95)
In the body of Christ, we need one another for truth.
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. (NASB95)
In the body of Christ, we need one another for comfort.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. (NASB95)
In the body of Christ, we need one another for hospitality.
1 Peter 4:9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. (NASB95)
We really do need one another!
Of course, Scripture gives us many other reasons we need one another, but from this short list its clear that we really do need one another!
Perhaps this week you could text, call, or even (and I know this is old school) write someone telling them that you are glad to be in this ministry, in this walk with Jesus together.
Or maybe you could just take them to lunch and tell them.
No matter how we do it, I think it’s important that we do it.
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