The Importance Of Fellowshipping With Saints

-February 8, 2023-

Good morning, happy Wednesday,

“And let us consider one another in order stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

(Hebrews 10:24-25).

Fellowship with the saints is vital to every person and to the entire body of believers. Acts 2:42 says, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” The early Christians were one in Christ and they loved one another. The Greek word for fellowship is koinonia. The definition of fellowship is, “friendly association, especially with people who share one’s interests.” Our fellowship is with the Lord and our fellow believers.

When we attend church we must come with the purpose of encouraging others. When we stay home we miss two blessings: what we can receive and what we can give. Watching and listening online is great when we are sick, injured, recovering from surgery, or are out of town on business or vacation. Apart from these scenarios, being at church with saints is the greatest blessing. I always look forward to seeing and encouraging my brothers and sisters in Christ. The pandemic was very hard on all of us when we were locked down.

Years ago we had an expression, “Extend the right hand of fellowship.” This is taken from Galatians 2:9, where Paul wrote, “And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.” Whenever someone new visits our church, we reach out and offer the right hand of fellowship, and when missionaries visit us we do the same. But we should do the very same when see each other on Sundays or at midweek services. Some groups gathering together are often called “fellowship groups.” They are a real blessing especially in homes.

Fellowship is not just at church, it extends during the week as well. We should utilize our modern technology of phone calls, emails, texts, and social media. As great as these are, they cannot replace the personal, human interaction. Let us then stir each other with love, good works, and encouragement. We need each other. We need the fellowship.

Have a blessed day with great fellowship along the way. Stay safe and healthy.

Being a blessing to one another in sweet fellowship,

Dean