Amongst other things, Angie and I have recently made a pact to spend time every night reading our bibles together and then discussing what we read, journaling on it, etc. Since we don't have a small group to fellowship with, this is the best thing we can think of to fill that void. While it doesn't replace a small group, it's certainly better than doing nothing.
One of the joys to it, for me, is that we don't get involved in big 10-15 person discussions about certain points, or feel shut out of the conversation, as has happened in the past in small group settings when there are just too many people involved. (They call them "small" groups for a reason. ;) ) Just to clarify, we used to belong to a huge small group that neared 20 participants at one point. While it was filled with some of the most wonderful Christians we've ever met, unfortunately, 15+ people is just too many for an "intimate" discussion.
However, when it's just Angie and I, we can really dig deep on some things and often a certain passage will jump out that we might not be able to discuss further in a small group, since most are lesson based, not daily reading based.
Yesterday's was 2 Peter 1:5-11
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I've certainly felt nearsighted and blind recently, which is probably why this jumped out at me. However, even when I didn't feel that way, I completely missed the impact of the verses. Faith, goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. If I were filled with these every minute of every day, what a great life I'd have... in fact, it might be the very life He designed me to live. What a concept!
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