Ideas from a Stapler

      Only about 3 more weeks until June 18th.  That is the day the third session of Maywood Christian Camp begins!  It is one of my favorite weeks of the entire year.  I love serving as a counselor there!  It will be here before I know it.
      Today I've been working on night time cabin devotionals.  I like to use object lessons so I can give the girls some little something to help them remember the devotional. The other day, I came across some mini staplers left over from what I gave as extras to some family members at Christmas.
      This afternoon, I remembered I used Bible verses to go with some of my "extra" gifts.  I kept I list of the scriptures and went to find them.  Then I began to think about the lessons in our class book at Maywood for this year.  My mind began to spin as fast as a merry-go-round.  :)
      Now - well, here we go!
      
      A single piece of paper is not hard to tear into two pieces, right?   But the more pieces of paper you put together, the harder it is to tear them.  A stapler holds pieces of paper together.  It keeps them from getting pulled apart.  
     Usually when we use a stapler, we are keeping papers together that have something in common.  Maybe they are the pages of a tax return.  For a school teacher they may be pages of homework assignment from each student in class.  For someone in business, it may be a financial report or parts of a sales pitch to be given.  
      The papers need to be kept together.  If we lose one page of the presentation, it won't be complete.  It would be the same way with the tax return ... and if we lost part of that we might be in trouble if we were audited.  The staple binds the parts together to make it a whole.  The stapler is the tool used to bring the pieces to together.  
       As Christians we need to stick together.  We are stronger when we do.  Just as one piece of paper can easily be torn, we are not as strong alone as we are together.  The more Christians put together working for a common goal, the stronger we are.   In His infinite wisdom, Jesus died for and built the church so we could draw on the strength of one another.  
      The early Christians understood this principle.  The book of Acts speaks often of the close fellowship ... the strong bond the believers had with one another.  Acts 2:46-47 says they were together every day.  In Chapter 4: 23 -31, they prayed together for the boldness of the apostles to preach and teach.  And in Acts 4:32 - 37, the sold their possessions and shared all things with one another as they each had need.   Their bond was very strong.  
      Another thing the early church shared was a strong belief in prayer.  I already mentioned they prayed together in Acts chapter 4.  However, this wasn't the only time the church came together to pray.  Acts 12 records the martyr of James (the brother of John) as well as the imprisonment of Peter by Herod.    
     Consider one short but very profound verse,  Acts 12:12 "When this had dawned on him (Peter), he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying."   So much can be gained from this single passage!!  
     First of all, the closeness of the believers is clearly evident - even in the face of persecution.  They didn't surrender their faith.  They didn't call it quits.  They weren't in their own homes afraid and alone.  Instead they gathered together -- there were "many" of them in one place and they were praying.  
      Secondly, Peter knew where to go.  As soon as he awakened from his trance, he immediately went to the house of Mary.  Why did he go there?  How did he know other believers would be there?  Peter knew they would be together because that is what the early church did.  They simply had the habit of communing with one another.  Have we forgotten the importance of fellowship today? 
     Thirdly, I find it somewhat incredible Peter knew exactly to whose home to go.  Not only did Peter seek out other believers, he knew where to find them.  This speaks volumes about the faith and courage of Mary.  If Peter knew where the church would be, it was highly likely Herod's men would know also.  At least it probably wouldn't take them long to find out.  
     Mary's hospitality played an amazing role in the events of that night.  She no doubt was a strong influence among the disciples of Christ in the first century.  Peter knew the kind of woman Mary was.   Obviously, she had opened her home to the believers on more than one occasion, else how would Peter know to go there?  
      The lessons from our Maywood class book this year are on the power of one.  I personally think the lesson of Mary in Acts 12:12 is a wonderful example of the power of one.  She enabled the church to meet together and remain united in their faith and in prayer.  She helped disciples stick with each other.  She allowed herself to be used as a stapler.        Mary knew the power of prayer and hosted a prayer group in her home.  I am honored to be part of a prayer group too.  We are not "many" as described in Acts 12; but we have come to understand the power of prayer.  
      These individuals are amazing women of God and every day I am thankful to be part of them!  We have been sticking together for about five years now.  We know how much stronger we are when we are together.  
     As part of this group, each of us has gained a certain spiritual maturity.  We are stronger today (together) than we were (apart) five years ago.  Our prayers have helped us hold on to Christ through some pretty tough times and we remember to praise God through our victories.  As one of them posted on face book a few weeks ago, if you aren't part of a group like this -- find one.  
     So earlier I said the stapler was the tool used to bring papers together and the staple was the thing used to hold them together.  Well, it may be kind of a far stretch for some to see .... but Christ is the stapler.  His loving sacrifice is the tool God used to bring us together.  The church is the staple that holds us together.   Our love and fellowship together keep us united in purpose and praying together increases our faith and strength.  Think about it.  :)

      Let's stick together.  We need each other.       
      "And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.  And He is the head of the body, the church."
                                                                             Colossians 1:17-18
      
     "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."      Colossians 3:14
  
Christ above all things, 
Robin