Morning Inspiration with Pastor Merritt
“What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.” 1 John 1:3-4
Most every Sunday, before the preacher speaks and in-between one of the worship songs, the worshipers are instructed to, “shake hands and say ‘good morning’ to those around you.” Through this simple gesture, we are initiating how the Apostle John taught Christians to live: in fellowship with one another.
These days Christians tend to automatically link the word fellowship with food and fun. And while these things can absolutely be a part of fellowship with one another, they are not what true fellowship is built on. The Greek word for fellowship is koinonia, which means, "to share in common." What do we share in common that allows us to enjoy fellowship with one another? It is Jesus.
When you accept Jesus as Lord, you are born again into the family of God and now have the right of true fellowship with all other children of God! One of the wonderful things of being a Christian is that a Christian life never has to be a lonely life. There should be no "lone rangers" in God's family. We are called to share each other's joys, sorrows, highs and lows.
True fellowship, both vertically with the Father and horizontally with the family of God, fill us with complete and full joy. Too many Christians are walking through this life with partial, momentary joy. John says, "these things we write, so that your joy may be made complete." Our joy is made complete by first, having fellowship with God (Psalm 16:11) and secondly, by having fellowship with other believers. So I encourage you, if either of these two areas of fellowship has become occasional in your life, begin today by getting back into fellowship. We were created for relationships. Both vertical and horizontal.
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