The Multiplying Community – How all of us join together to fulfill God’s purpose

There is a common theme among many of the books that I have read recently. Jesus had 12 close friends – 12 friends so close that they did everything together. They walked and talked; slept and ate; listened and prayed together. The 12 disciples had the opportunity to witness, first-hand, what it meant to lead a godly life.

Imagine, learning how to pray to God from God. He would be the One to know how to ask the Father for what He needed. Jesus also knew how to accept an answer of “no” appropriately.

I have yearned for the opportunity to spend more time with people that I see as godly. I have yearned to learn how to pray from those I consider masters. I have desired to learn the tricks to teaching God’s Word by illuminating unexpected incites. I want a mentor.

And I’m not too picky. I want someone that I consider to be at a level of righteousness that I would wish to strive towards. I don’t want someone to randomly assign me someone who I might not admire. Smirk. You think I can learn from them? Laugh.

I’m not selfish either. I am more than willing to mentor someone else. Let someone else be by my side at all times – someone to witness my triumphs, but also my failures. That person would wonder why they were assigned to me. I’m a long way down.

Is this where communes start?

It’s impossible to learn godliness from someone if you are never around them. And we are so over scheduled … I can block a time with you for an hour over lunch and maybe an hour after work, and if you want to run with me at 4:30. Can you talk while you run? How about just listen?

Don’t even get me started on my circle of 12. What if I’m not happy with the 12 God has given me. Or the 6. Or the 3? Then I am reminded – Jesus accepted Judas. Jesus chose Judas. Jesus forgave Judas. Judas declined.

So if going out to all nations preaching the Gospel seems a little overwhelming, remember Jesus’ mini-church. And it just occurred to me, okay, the Spirit pointed out to me that I know a lovely young Muslim girl that lives in the Middle East. She shared Easter with us more than six years ago. It is possible ….

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.”

John 17:6-7 (ESV)