Korba: Brotherly Visit

Shepherding is the key to recover a backslidden brother. The Lord Jesus recovered Peter by simply shepehrding him. And His charge to Peter was to simply shepherd the flock of God if he indeed loved Him. The same is true with every believer today. The soltuion to some backslidden, dishearted, and discouraged brothers is to simply shepherd them with the love of Christ.  

As the Lord has been shepherding me, He also burdened me to shepherd some brothers who I have been shepherding within my capacity.  This time, as we were on a trip to Chattisgarh, I deemed it fit to visit a brother and his family in Korba. We have been in fellowship and prayer over the phone, therefore, visiting them would further strengthen our fellowship and relationship in Christ. 

Our fellowship began as we were picked up from the railway station. We fellowshipped as we drove to the brother's home who came to pick us up. Then, the moment we reach his home, his father engaged us in clarifying some of his doubts he had been harboring since the time his son shifted to Raipur leaving his government job for the sake of the Lord's testimony. Many doubts he had were poured out one by one. 

We looked to the Lord deep within to address his questions. The Lord indeed graced us to answer, question by question, on truth, life, practice, church, and other spiritual and human matters. The fellowship went all the way till midnight when we felt to take a break, prayed, and took rest for the day. The next day, our fellowship began at the breakfast table which went on till lunch and further continued till the father and son dropped us and saw us off at the railway station.

Besides the sweet fellowship, we also enjoyed the sweet hospitality the brother's family gave us. I believe, the Lord's testimony began from one's family life at home and then further spreads to other areas; from the center to the circumference. Without a proper family life, I am very doubtful of one being useful in the Lord's hand. "Charity begins from home," is the world-famous dictum; and I modify this as, "Sanctify, testimony, and ministry begins from home!"

After the fellowship, the brother confirmed to me the positive feeling from his parent after our visit and fellowship. My only fellowship to him is, to simply live out Christ and that his life would be a living testimony, and warned him never to preach nor try to convince his parent in any way other than his own living testimony. The word of St. Augustine rang forth, "Preach the gospel always, if necessary, use words."

I believe the Lord would fully shepherd my dear brother, recover his full enjoyment of Christ, and restore his earthly profession, and also restore his function in the Body to be a pillar for the Lord's testimony one day. 

May the Lord recover and restore my brother and his family even to the raising up of His testimony in Korba!