Gather Together

Now Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. (Exodus 18:1 NIV)

Sometimes I think we make it so complicated.  We want our family, friends, neighbors and coworkers to walk together with God.  We want to help them in their process.  But, we reason, w don’t know how.

Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, together with Moses' sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain of God. (Exodus 18:5 NIV)

While that may be the case, there are always tools available to us that God provides.  One of those tools is quite simple: relationship.  We have relationships with the family, friends, neighbors and coworkers who we want to help.  We already know them.  So we really don’t need an excuse to get together with them.  All we really need to do is make it a priority. We need to gather together with them, enjoying time with friends we already have.

So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent. (Exodus 18:7 NIV)

God calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves.  Part of walking with God is making it a priority to walk together with people.  As we walk together with them, we bring God along with us.  Those of us who are in Christ have the Spirit of Christ within.  So, getting together for a backyard barbeque really is a part of empowering one more to walk together with God.

How about you?  Do you gather together with family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers just to enjoy building a good relationship with them?  Do you bring God along in your mind and heart?  Do you see relationship building as a part of your walk together with God?