Individually

We enter this world as individuals; we must walk as individuals and die as individuals and individually give account for our actions. We were individuals when God called us, and we have our own individual development.

Jesus cared for people individually. Sometimes He spoke to the multitudes, but they wanted to make Him either their provider or their 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, 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.’” John 1:35-39. The next day He met Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Philip found Nathanael and led him to Jesus, etc.

If we have received any measure of the love of Christ, then we will be interested in people as individuals. The Spirit convicts each person individually of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Paul exhorted each one with tears in order to present each one perfect in Christ Jesus.

If we cannot help one soul to progress in Christ, how much less will we be able to help the multitudes? I have heard preachers who say that they are not happy unless they can speak to large congregations. Even the Master of all mankind was happy to be with one individual. He was content to have an intimate conversation with John. There is something lofty in man that is not satisfied unless there are large congregations, and that pride must be broken down. Such people are incapable of leading anyone into a deeper life with Christ, because that would require them to instruct others to tread their own winepress alone. We must bear Christ’s sufferings alone, be conformed to His death alone, and be raised up alone—one having the glory of the sun, another having the glory of the moon, and yet another having the glory of the stars.

Adam was created as an individual, and he sinned as an individual, and the Lord called on him as an individual and said to Adam, “Where are you?” May we, as God’s co-workers, also learn to say to each other, “Where are you?” It can seem insignificant; however, it is blessed to work with individuals. You develop a closeness and fellowship which cannot be torn apart for all eternity. Let us be ambassadors for Christ and implore one another on Christ’s behalf: “Be reconciled to God.”

What fruit can possibly come from traveling from place to place in order to preach if you don’t have an interest in or care for the individuals? Don’t the multitudes consist of individuals? When Paul greeted the church in Rome, he not only named people individually, he also mentioned their unique characteristics. Phoebe was a servant of 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 him. 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. Romans 16. All this shows that Paul was full of care for each one as an individual, and that was precisely what gave him tremendous strength.

These days, people have a leader for their church, and then one day, out of the blue, they get rid of him without giving it a second thought. Someone else is just as good at preaching, praying, and selecting songs to sing, and that is the main thing for them.

You can be sure that Paul did not allow himself to be dismissed so easily. Even when they dismissed him, his love prevented him from forsaking them. He had developed a fellowship with them, in Christ Jesus, that could not be cut off by the will of man. If Paul had limited his work to merely speaking from the pulpit once in a while, he would certainly never have developed such a close, personal relationship with them.

Even the devil has learned the art of working with people individually, but many of God’s children consider such labor to be inconsequential and beneath them. May God liberate us from pride. Think about what a single Paul was able to accomplish, and was not a single David better than thousands? Could not a single Samson strike down and kill 3,000 Philistines, and cannot the one and only Jesus Christ save and bear all the sin of the world? Therefore, the most profitable thing to do is to work with individuals.