"Count"

My Daddy always asked me,

How many did you count?

It was just a part of my job, see,

To know the right amount,

Of cattle in the pasture,

That I was sent to ride,

Taught me not to do it faster,

But to find the ones that hide.

And if I saw one out alone somewhere,

I learned it was a sign,

That that one probably needed care,

The doctorin’ chore was mine.

Herd-quittin’ meant that they were sick,

Needed help so they’d recover,

Better to get to ‘em quick,

To try and soon discover,

If they had a cold or what,

Just try to diagnose,

And oftentimes I gave a shot,

In the sick pen watched ‘em close.

I find in this a lesson sure,

From God’s own holy writ,

Isolation’s not the cure,

When trials tempt you to quit.

When in need do not withdraw,

From partners in the fight,

They help us with our every flaw,

So we will be all right.

And when God’s tally ends the count,

You will not missing be,

But doctored by the heavenly fount,

His smiling face you’ll see.

“Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25, NAS)

God has called us to the community of believers. Those who follow Jesus are our brothers and sisters, and we need to stay connected to them. Sometimes the temptation is to withdraw and isolate ourselves when we are going through something. Perhaps we are afraid or ashamed, but there is no good excuse for breaking fellowship. The strength we get from spiritual encouragement cannot be overestimated, and we do well to fully embrace both support and accountability with those to whom God assigns us Sometimes it’s no more than two or three, but in His name they are enough.

Lord, help us never forsake assembling together, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mark Maggiori, used by permission. Thanks, Mark, and God bless you.