Individually

Individually

We enter this world alone, we must walk alone and die alone and we are solely responsible for our deeds. We were alone when God called us, and we have our own unique development.

Jesus worked with people one-on-one. Although at times He spoke to the masses, they wanted to make Him either their provider or a king, and that was not God’s intention for Christ.

Two disciples heard John say, “Behold the Lamb of God!” and they immediately arose and followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned around, and when He saw that they followed Him, He said to them, “‘What do you seek?’ They said to Him, ‘Rabbi . . . where are You staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’” The next day He met Philip and said to him, “‘Follow me.’” Philip found Nathanael and led him to Jesus, and so it continued.

If we have received any measure of the love of Christ, we have an interest in people as individuals. The Spirit convicts each and every person of sin, righteousness and judgment. Paul exhorted everyone with tears in order to present every person perfect in Christ Jesus. If we cannot help one soul to progress in Christ, how much less will we be able to help the masses? I have heard preachers say that they are only happy when they can speak to large congregations. The Master of all people was satisfied to be with one individual. He was content to have an intimate conversation with John. There is a pride in man that is not satisfied unless it has a large audience, and that pride must be broken down. People with such an attitude of mind are incompetent to lead others into a deeper life with Christ. That work requires that we instruct people individually to tread their own winepress. We must bear Christ’s sufferings alone, be formed to be like Him in His death alone and be raised up alone, one with the glory of the sun, one with the glory of the moon and one with the glory of the stars.

Adam was created alone and he sinned alone, and the Lord called on him alone and said, “Where are you?” May we, as God’s co-workers, also learn to say to each other, “Where are you?” It requires painstaking effort to work with people personally, but it is extremely rewarding. Closeness and fellowship develop which all eternity cannot tear down. Let us stand as Christ’s ambassadors and exhort each one on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

What fruit can possibly come from traveling around preaching if a person does not have an interest in or care for the individual? Are not the multitudes made up of individuals, one by one? When Paul greets the church in Rome, he not only names people individually, he also mentions their unique characteristics. Phoebe was a servant to the church in Cenchrea; she was to be received in the Lord. Priscilla and Aquila were Paul’s fellow workers. They had risked their lives for Paul. Mary had labored much for the church in Rome. Andronicus and Junia were his fellow prisoners and were of note among the apostles. Amplias was beloved in the Lord, Urbanus was a fellow worker in Christ and Stachys was beloved. Apelles was approved in Christ. Rom. 16.

All this shows that Paul was full of care for each and every one, and this was precisely what gave him tremendous strength.

In our days a person can be the leader of an assembly, and then one day out of the blue, they send him on his way without a second thought. They find someone else who can preach, pray and choose songs just as well, and this is what is important to them.

You can be sure that Paul did not allow himself to be dismissed this easily. Even when they bid him goodbye, his love would not allow him to forsake them. He had developed a fellowship in Christ Jesus that could not be cut off by the will of man.

If Paul had limited his ministry to merely speaking from the pulpit once in a while, he would never have gotten to know each individual so personally.

Even the devil has learned the art of working with people individually, but many of God’s children consider such labor too inconsequential and insignificant. May God liberate us from pride. Think of what one Paul was able to accomplish, and was not one David better then thousands? Could not one Samson strike down and kill 3,000 Philistines, and cannot Jesus Christ alone save and bear all the sin of the world? The most profitable thing is to work with people individually.