Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:3
Although Christians look forward to having joyful fellowship with each other one day in
heaven, our relationships here on earth can often be anything but joyful. Someone has
described it this way: "To live above with those we lovethat will be grace and
glory. To live below with those we knownow, that's a different story!"
Isolating ourselves from others doesn't resolve this problem. The one thing we all need,
particularly when life is difficult, is fellowship with other believers. First John 1:3
says that Christian fellowship is "with the Father and with His Son Jesus
Christ," but it's also with each other.
We need more than our private "Jesus and me" fellowship, as fundamental as that
is. God also made us for a "Jesus and we" fellowship. Reuben Welch wrote,
"Christians are not brought together because they like each other, but because they
share a common life in Jesus and are . . . learning how to love each other as members of
the family."
How can this deeper love become a reality? We must walk in God's light (v.7), be honest
about our sins (v.8), and confess them to God for forgiveness and cleansing (v.9).
If we are to grow more Christlike and learn to love, we need one another.
-JEY
Christian fellowship provides us
With encouragement and love;
It will help us in our journey
Till we reach our home above.
-Sper
No Christian is meant to be an island.