“Fellowship is a friendly relationship and companionship that builds through a community of shared interest, feelings, and communion.” - Kathy Spampinato

Fellowship

Fellowship is a friendly relationship and companionship that builds through a community of shared interest, feelings, and communion. It is a bond that unites us and brings intimacy, joy, and depth of devotion. Our fellowship in the body of Christ is a unity of the spirit that builds us up. Let's take a look at what 1 John 1 says about this.

1John 1:1-2 ESV “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life- the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us- …”

God has made spiritual, eternal life, manifest to us. We have seen it! When we are born again, we can testify to it. We have seen the reality of the Kingdom of God. We have experienced it and touched it. It has touched us.

Verses 3-4 “…that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”

This new life with God changes our minds, our hearts, our lives, and our very existence. Not only that, but it creates fellowship with the Father, with Jesus, and with each other.

Verses 5-6 “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth."

If we say we have fellowship with God it should also be expressed in our relationships with others. If we are still walking in sin and darkness, we are deceiving ourselves. God has some work to do in our hearts. Remember, the Gospel brings light to our lives.

Verses 7-8 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

As we experience true Christian fellowship it will propel us into the light and promote our spiritual growth. Sometimes this process happens easily as we experience the love of God and see its fruit. At other times it is a struggle as the brightness of the light exposes the shadows of darkness in our attitudes, words, and behaviors.

When we interact with others they will at times, rub us the wrong way. Rubbing elbows with others can cause friction. It can grate on our nerves and bring an irritation. God has designed this as an opportunity to expose your own heart- to you! This will shave off the rough spots so God can refine you and glorify himself through you. It makes the rough places smooth and sharpens the tip of the blade. It is an opportunity to be sharpened: to make your spiritual weapons effective and ready. It is a beautiful thing, but not always comfortable. Nevertheless, God has made provision for you in this.

1John 1:9-10 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

Let’s decide to cooperate with God’s refining process. We will be happier in the end and able to build deep and abiding fellowship with family and friends. God promises to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. The process doesn’t stop on the surface, and no problem or sin is too ingrained or too awful for Him to deal with. The depth of our experience will bring a rich and enduring bond with God and man.

1 Peter 3:8-9,12 “Finally, all of you have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. …For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayers.”

Our hearts crave a deep and meaningful connection with others. We desire a sense of belonging and the contentment that comes from feeling loved. Deep relationships combat isolation, depression, and despair. Today, I leave you with this one final thought.

1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, keep loving one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

Note: Today's blog is an excerpt from my book, "Overcoming Disappointment and Discouragement", 2022, Xulon Press.