The Importance of Connection
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20
When I joined a new Bible study group in the fall of 2019, I didn’t know that I would be finding a close circle of Christian sisters. In the past year, we have studied Paul’s letters to the Philippians, Timothy, Titus, and Colossians. We have had serious discussions about everything from Paul’s warnings of false teachers to his encouragement because Christ died for us. We have laughed and been silly, and we have tearfully shared painful prayer requests. We have also seen prayers answered, and some of those answers have been miraculous! And some things, well, some things we are still praying about.
These ladies encourage me, and we delight in our time with the Lord. On the last night of the first study, we each brought our favorite dessert and noshed the time away as we discussed what we had learned. During the most recent study, we each requested our favorite hymn, and we sang and worshipped together. That was powerful. The Lord joined us. Where two or three are gathered, He is in the midst of us, right?
Let me tell you how I found them.
About a year and a half ago, I was bopping around on Facebook, and while I was in a Christian women’s group, I found an invitation to join an online Bible study. Honestly, I didn’t think about it. I emailed the name in the post and told her I was interested.
Yes, it was online. Even though it was pre-pandemic, we met by Zoom. This group was designed for ladies who wanted to study the Word but for whatever reason didn’t have the time to go to an in-person meeting. Some of the ladies were too tired to drive somewhere after work and then drive home after the study. Some had families they couldn’t leave alone. Some just frankly don’t like driving at night. This way of studying met many needs.
The study was also open to women from different churches, different backgrounds, different cities. My Bible study sisters have different accents, different traditions, different skin colors. We are even in different states! But we are the same in that we love the Lord, and we love each other.
Like a lot of us, I need motivation and accountability.
God knew that I needed a group of Bible study sisters, although I adore my local church family. My sisters there are warm and caring and thoughtful beyond my imagination. They are full of the love of Jesus! But the pandemic has separated us. Because of family health concerns, I am unable to be with them now. We are unable to study together, to fellowship together.
While we have been apart, they have blessed us with calls and cards and even Thanksgiving dinner. My eyes well with tears as I’m typing because of the unselfish love they show us. They share the love of the Lord, and that is what it’s all about. But how dry my soul would be if I had not been able to meet in Bible study! Sure, I read devotions. I pray. I get into the Word. But, like a lot of us, I need motivation and accountability. That’s what my online Bible study group provides.
So, remember that Jesus is in the midst of where two or three gather? While He is, we shouldn’t relegate Him to a physical room. He isn’t confined to the physical after all, is He? No! He meets us where we are. I am saying that again: He meets us where we are. That’s physically and spiritually. We don’t have to be in a church for God to meet us. And, we don’t have to be all cleaned up and perfect for Him to meet us, either.
No matter where you think you are, righteous or dirty or somewhere in between, churched or not churched, take time to ask God to meet you where you are. Laugh with Him, cry with Him, and ask Him to send you some brothers and sisters to hold you accountable. Let Him minister to your spirit as your connections grow.
Jesus says in Matthew 28:20b, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” He is with us always, whether we are alone or in a group. But don’t let yourself get isolated (or stay isolated, if you already are). Technology allows us to connect with other believers. They can encourage you and love on you, even from a different time zone.
