Issue 966 – Walking – January 25, 2023
Part of the morning routine here is walking the grandchildren to school. That is followed by picking them up again in the afternoon.
This morning the eight of us headed out (Kevin, Kathy, Kris, Amanda and four grandchildren.) Along the way, we added another neighbourhood child who regularly walks with the family. Then we were joined by a friend of one of the grandchildren. By then, we stretched out quite a bit. All along the route were more families walking.
The school houses more than 1,000 elementary students, all within walking range. Another school nearby houses a similar number. That makes for a lot of families walking. The Toronto area is one of the most ethnically diverse parts of the world, and you can see that walking to the school. Every race and culture seems to be represented.
As I watched the stream of families, I was drawn to two familiar stories in the Scriptures.
I thought of Jesus’ parents coming down from Jerusalem and discovering they had left him behind (Luke 2:41-52.) Seeing the school crowds made it easy to imagine.
I also thought of Moses leading the people of Israel out of bondage (Exodus 12, 13). Particularly in the early phases, before they got organized, it must have been pure pandemonium.
Family members would have been scattered, travelling with friends and relatives. Slower family members and stragglers would soon be lagging behind their group. Impatient or faster members would have pushed out ahead.
One could easily see families not getting it together until they stopped for the night, and even then, with some intentionality.
I see that replicated in most church gatherings on any given Sunday. Those with assigned tasks and the early birds show up well in advance of the service start. The bulk shows up in a vast wave just before the start. The laggers start arriving when the service begins and for some time afterwards. Eventually, we are all in the same place, worshipping together.
As a perpetual early bird (I was taught that being on time meant 10 minutes early), I have to remember that the other groups’ priorities may not match my own.
We are all different, hardwired by God individually and shaped by life’s experiences. We not only have other ideas of what time to arrive for the service but differing gifts, talents and needs.
The most significant and greatest challenge that faces the church is its diversity. Different ethnicities, cultures, ages, languages, genders, backgrounds, theological perspectives and personalities all worshipping the one true God. All sealed by the same Spirit.
That diversity requires us to walk in humility and grace. We have to become aware of the cultures of others and sensitive to them. We need to become adept at forgiving and asking for forgiveness.
The church was never designed to be a homogenous group of people of the same nationality and background. God’s plan always encompassed the entirety of the world.
No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. Genesis 17:5
The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us, that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers. Let these words of mine, with which I have pleaded before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, and may he maintain the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires, that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other. 1 Kings 8:57-60
…for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Isaiah 56:7b
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands. And they cry out with a loud voice saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb. Revelation 7:9-10
Look around you. Does your Sunday congregation mirror the diversity in your community? If not, you may be missing something.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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