“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:41-42 NKJV)
On Mondays and Tuesday, I serve as a volunteer for a Tutoring and Mentoring Program at our church, directed by our Assistant Pastor. While we will offer services for students ranging from kindergarten to seniors in high school, the first few weeks our attendees have not been beyond the second grade. Don’t let the lower elementary grades fool you, most of these students are doing school work above their grade level. Their skills, as well as their endless reservoir of energy, keeps volunteers on their toes in preparing plans to assist these achievers in the academic aspects of our program.
We have purchased games, brought books loaded with worksheets, and grabbed games at the local education supply store, including a “How Would You Feel” set of cards that can be used to stimulate discussions that will help students in their social and emotional development. We also have a segment for learning Spanish too, taught by an award-winning, diversity and inclusion, certified, executive. The other staff members are high achievers in their perspective secular roles. A hard day at work does not keep them from sacrificing their time and talents. Let me get back to the worksheets.
One of the worksheets was entitled “Missing Numbers.” Picture how this math-oriented worksheet is organized, looking with the mind’s eyes as I describe it. One the worksheets, there are four roles of ducks, and on each row one of the ducks has a number missing. The young participants have to fill in the missing number on each row. Is this simply about counting? No, of course not. The purpose of the worksheet is to practice number sequencing. The participants, at the kindergarten student, did very well. Listen to how for me personally, it was even more than I just described.
Always looking through a God-conscious prism in my daily interactions, I pondered, wondering if there was even an ounce of inspiration that would be sparked by the missing numbers, sequencing activity. Guess what? Yes, I did! Actually I found two; one dealing with missing numbers and the other focusing on the concept of sequencing as it applies to church members. I could have said “believers,” but since all believers should be church members, but are not active in the church, I choose the latter church members on purpose.
You have probably figured out the “missing numbers” part already. Yes, you are absolutely right! There are too many empty spaces that should be filled with saved faces; empty seats where believers used to sit in the church; sometimes even on a specific pew that was once dubbed proudly by the person as “my pew.” Now these persons are included in the group of the missing numbers.” Of course, that’s not you, right? That’s not anyone that lives in your house, right? I hope your answers were “Yes” to both of the questions that I just posed!
In terms of sequencing, I thought about the faithful few, the most inner circle of the concentric circles that make up any and every congregation. The inner circle gets it! They don’t stop with the confession of their faith in Jesus Christ! They go the next step and prove that they have passed from death to life because they love others. They also follow this sequence: (1) They strive to know Christ better. (2) After continuingly knowing Christ better; knowing about His precepts, His principles, and His presented expectations for His disciples, they experience perfect progress as a believer. (3) They don’t miss the assembly of the saints. They realize that every Sunday, the Lord sends a specific message by a specific messenger, for a specific purpose, specifically for them. (4) They pick up their cross daily and follow Christ. They let Him lead, but they stay close behind Him. (5) Alterations in regard to their priorities of time, their perception about how to use their talents, and their use of their treasures change. (6) Additional good things happen in the sequential progress. They never stop at a plateau, assuming that they have reached the top of the staircase of the Christian life. Sequencing continues through the Christian’s journey while on the face of the earth.
If you are asking, “Why in the world is he telling me all this,” let me ask you one more question and you will answer your inquiry. Question: You are not one of the believers who have a sequencing problem, right?
Have a great Friday! Oh, share this meditation with others who need to know about missing numbers. Be blessed!
“So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.” (2 Peter 1:5-7 The Message Bible)