Friday, March 26th

We have a number of clocks in our home.

One’s an antique German regulator clock from the late 1800s. Another, larger timepiece was assembled 20 or so years ago. A third is a cuckoo clock my parents brought back from the Black Forest in Germany. (Pity the poor guest who spends the night in our house and hasn’t learned how to tune out the different chimes, gongs and cuckoo calls.)

Each timepiece is different, but they share one thing in common – all need to be wound up and reset regularly. Even the most precise of our clocks – oddly enough the 100-plus-year Teutonic timepiece – loses a minute or two every month and needs to be reset.

That speaks to our faith walk and the importance of Christian community, as well.

Day in and day out we do pretty well. We don’t notice the seconds we’re losing or the fact that we’re slowly becoming unwound in the midst of demanding jobs, piled-high schoolwork, the challenges of raising children or in the caring of elderly parents.

It’s not until we come together in worship, prayer, celebration or Bible study that we realize how much we really need the fellowship of other believers. And we walk away from those experiences refreshed, energized and, well . . . reset.

Surely that’s why Paul in his letters continually reminds us of the importance of Christian community. In 1st Thessalonians he exhorts us to “encourage one another and build each other up . . .” (1 Thes. 5:11).

Winding up and resetting the clock. That’s what he writing about.

Prayer for those currently enjoying being in a strong Christian community: Lord, thank you for the encouragement I receive from those believers you have surrounded me with. Please bless me through them so that I can bless them, as well, and invite others into that community. Amen.

Prayer for those seeking Christian community: Lord, please guide me as I seek (a church, a Bible study, a small group, etc.) so that I can be nurtured and grow in my relationship with you. Amen.

Ed Klodt