In yesterday’s blog post I made the analogy/comparison of our tour guide being a lot like the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit in our life (if we are a follower of Jesus Christ).
Just like we were given a little “radio” on a lanyard as part of our tour group … so also, in the same way, if we have accepted Jesus’s Christ as our Savior, Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit for free. The Holy Spirit fills and indwells us. The Holy Spirit guides and instructs us in how we are to live as we follow Jesus Christ.
Just like we could hear our tour guide through the little earpiece in our ear … so also, in the same way, if we have the Holy Spirit as our “tour guide” through life we likewise have the Holy Spirit’s voice speaking through a little “earpiece” in our ear. This would be our conscience. This would be His voice speaking in our heart as we read the Bible.
Yesterday’s blog post focused on how important it is to follow the tour guide.
But just as important as the tour guide, is our tour group.
As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, touring through the Vatican Museum was very very crowded! The press of the crowds was intense! The mass of people was overwhelming and intimidating!
Yes, we could hear our tour guide’s voice coming through the earpiece in our ear. Giving us reassurance that our tour guide was close by.
When our tour guide’s voice began breaking up in our earpiece, we were on alert that he was moving out of the range of our little “radio.” We knew we needed to get eyes on our tour guide immediately and keep up!
But every bit as important was our tour group. Our little group which toured through the Vatican Museum was 15 people. Without even realizing it, I was subconsciously paying attention and keeping a close eye on the other members of my tour group. Subconsciously I was aware of what the other members of my tour group were wearing: she has a blue shirt, he has a red shirt, she has a floppy hat, etc. …
Subconsciously, as I followed along listening to the voice of our tour guide in my earpiece, I was at the same time making sure I had eyes on the other members of my tour group.
There were number of times in the press of the crowds that I lost sight of our tour guide. I couldn’t see our tour guide at all. So, I looked for the members of my tour group! There they are! We’re still all together. They can probably see the tour guide. All is ok.
Not gonna lie, it was a bit intense touring through the Vatican Museum. And I was surprised how aware I was of the other members of my tour group. As long as I could see the other members of my tour group all was ok.
I couldn’t help but think how similar this is to life itself. Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit to be our “tour guide” through life. But we are also part of a “tour group.” We aren’t just out there doing life all by ourselves … just us and Jesus.
No. We are part of a “tour group.”
Everyone who loves and follows Jesus Christ is part of a large, overall “tour group.” This large, overall “tour group” is called the Church. The global Church.
But just like the large group of 80 people hubby and I were with from Inspiration Travel could not all tour through the Vatican Museum as a large group … so also it is the same when it comes to life. Just like our large group of 80 was broken down into smaller groups … so also, when it comes to the followers of Jesus Christ, we find ourselves broken down into smaller spiritual “tour groups.”
Our small spiritual “tour group” might be our local church we are a part of.
Our small spiritual “tour group” might be a small group Bible study we are a part of.
As we go through life, life itself can be intense! Life is hard. Life is demanding. Life is overwhelming.
We have the Holy Spirit as our “tour guide” leading and guiding us throughout each day. But there are times when the press of life is so intense that we lose sight of our “tour guide.” We are crushed by the weight and the burdens of life. We are pulled and “separated from our tour guide” by the press of life!
We can still hear our “tour guide” (the Holy Spirit) speaking to us in the “earpiece” in our ear … but we can’t see clearly anymore. We can’t see our tour guide.
That’s when we look around for our “tour group”!
There they are! They are going that direction. That’s the way to go. All is ok.
Our small spiritual “tour group” is important! We need our small spiritual “tour group”!
Many people don’t want anything to do with the Church. Perhaps they have experienced church hurt sometime in their past.
The thing is, just because this spiritual “tour group” (i.e. – this church, this small group Bible study, etc. …) might not be the nicest it doesn’t mean all the followers of Jesus Christ are that way.
Hubby and I were part of several different small tour groups during our two-week journey. Each small tour group had its own feel. In some of the small tour groups we didn’t really connect closely with the other members of the group. In others of the small tour groups we connected deeply and made lasting friendships with the other members of the group.
And so it is with life.
So it is when it comes to being part of a small spiritual “tour group” as we follow Jesus Christ and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
As our little group of 15 toured through the Vatican Museum, at one point a lady in our group tripped over a prayer-kneeler. She toppled down to the floor, landing against my legs. The other members in our group gasped in unison! Myself and her husband immediately helped her back to her feet. Everyone gathered around with concerned faces and questions of – “Are you ok??”
Thankfully she was fine. She was just stunned. Frightened. Embarrassed.
Our tour guide – Franco – calmed us all down and had her take several deep breaths. Then we all moved on.
We need our small spiritual “tour group” in life because sometimes as we try to navigate life we too might fall. We might trip. We might stumble.
We need our spiritual “tour group” to be right there supporting us. Caring for us. Concerned for us.
There to help us back on our feet again.
There to ask us if we are ok.
There to help us take several deep breaths.
There to help us keep moving on.
Our small spiritual “tour group” is important! Our small spiritual “tour group” matters!
If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, are you part of a small spiritual “tour group”? Are you plugged in somewhere with a small group of believers who are also followers of Jesus Christ?
If not, I encourage you to find a small group of believers who love and follow Jesus Christ. Their presence and support, as you all navigate life together, will be huge.
