RPG Adults
CAREFUL CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
LORD’S DAY, JULY 17
Philippians 2:19-23
1 John 4:1-6
“I will delight myself
in thy statutes…”
CAREFUL CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
There are times when the hectic schedule of life seems to press down upon us. No doubt the Apostle Paul regularly felt these same pressures. He saw as his own personal responsibility the care of all the churches (2 Cor 11:28). In the earlier days of his ministry, he tried to revisit all the churches which had begun through his evangelistic ministry (Acts 15:36).
Paul did not try to bear the heavy weight of responsibility alone. Even in his early journeys he took Barnabas and others with him. He knew there needed to be fellowship, and that this fellowship had to be based on obedience to Scripture (1 John 1:7). Despite the obvious shortage of workers, and the great amount of work, Paul was careful concerning his associations in the service of the Lord. In fact, it was in Philippi where the Apostle refused the help of a young girl who did not know the Lord (Acts 16:16-18).
We, too, must be careful with whom we fellowship in the Gospel. Remember, if we would serve the Lord, we must do it with the mind of Christ, looking at life the way Jesus did (Phil 2:5). It is important that we only fellowship and work for the Lord with those who are “likeminded” (Phil 2:20). We know others are “likeminded” not because they say so, but because they live for God (Phil 2:22). Timothy was qualified to be a companion of Paul because he lived in a way that showed his agreement with the Apostle’s faith and teaching. And he showed his oneness with Paul in spiritual matters by following Paul’s example.
We, too, must follow the examples of those who walk in obedience to the Gospel and find our Christian fellowship with them (Heb 13:7). Only in this way will we be able to fulfill the plan that God has for our lives and see the work of the Church move forward.
THOUGHT: With whom should we fellowship in the work of the Gospel?
PRAYER: Father, may I be faithful to Thee although in these final days there may be few who are “likeminded.”