Discipleship and Zippers
Sitting at the airport in Manila en route to Guam it is hard to imagine what our world would be like without zippers. Both my carry on and check in luggage has several zippers. Inside these bags my passport holder, toiletry case, nutritional supplement pouch and clothing all have zippers.
Invented in 1913, according to researchers zippers derived its name from the sound it made when used…zip, zip, zipper. Its main function is to close things by joining two sides together and to open them by separating the same two sides with ease.
There are a variety of benefits to zippers but just looking at my carry on and many of its contents, the pants and jacket I’m wearing, it is obvious that one of the main uses of zippers is to contain and protect with ease and yet have easy access by virtue of easy opening.
How does this apply to discipleship? Discipleship is all about connecting with the intent growing one another in our trust and love of God. When two sides connect together they have a greater capacity to contain God's Spirit and truth and to protect each other from evil that lurks. Whether it's a marriage or family, career or business, church or small group, good connections contain and protect what we value.
Interestingly while there are two sides to zippers it needs the slider in the middle to join them together. It does not matter how well formed or strong the teeth on each side of a zipper are without the slider in the middle they will not connect.
Similarly, we may all have the right things in us to connect with others but without Jesus in the center connections don’t work. When we keep connecting to Jesus we will have a greater ease of connecting and reconnecting with one another. Keep making disciples - zip, zip!
“Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.” Revelation 5:6
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