The Tie That Binds

The church that I attend is First Presbyterian Church, Garland. Every few years they hold an
eightieth birthday party for all those members that have reached 80 years or more. As I fellowshipped with those present, I reminisced about all the years we had worshipped together and played together. The many times we upheld one another in time of need.. It seems there is a special bond between Christians. Not just those members of FPC but Christians everywhere.

This brought other occasions to mind. One such occasion was when I made a trip to Greece following the ‘Footsteps of Paul.’ In Philippi at the Gaggitas River where Lydia was baptized, (Acts 16: 12-18), we had prayer with another tour group and joined hands and sang, ‘Bless be the Tie That Binds.’ There wasn’t a dry eye in the group.

Another time I was in Hamburg, Germany visiting a cousin who regularly worships in a Lutheran Church.
While sightseeing downtown Hamburg on a Sunday, the time came for worship, so we attended an ecumenical worship service especially for travelers’. It was one of the most inspiring worship services I ever attended.. There were people from at least 25 different countries. All praising one God, Lord and Savior of us all.

Still another occasion was when I was on a tour celebrating Martin Luther’s 500th Anniversary. We visited the cities where he lived, studied and preached. This was a time before the Berlin Wall came down., and Germany was divided. We were traveling mostly in the GDR, German Democratic Republic, which was a socialist state. One of the first cities we visited was Eisenach, where Luther lived from 1498-1501. We were grateful to be able to worship and partake of the Lord’s Supper at St. Thomas Church in Eisenach, the city Luther always referred to as his ‘Beloved City.‘ Of course, we couldn’t understand the words that were being spoken, but we felt the Spirit making us one as we worshipped together.

If life gives us Christian friends,
Who are faithful to the end,
Then life has given more than gold.
The greatest joy a heart can hold.
If Christian friends are ours to share,
To understand, believe and care,
Our Lord God surely knew,
Life would be complete and true.