Jan 22

Acts 2:42-47
Memorise Psalm 133:1
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

It is not wrong for a group of believers to get together to exchange cupcake recipes, talk about sports or chat about what’s going on at school. But this is not fellowship. Christian fellowship refers to spiritually-minded believers meeting to pursue a shared purpose: to encourage and build one another up in the faith, rebuke sin, pray, and do the work of God. Of course there is nothing wrong when Christians also talk about the best food or about current affairs, but our bond comes about through unity  in faith.

Is it true that birds of a feather flock together? I believe so. Early believers came from such diverse backgrounds and from all over the Roman Empire yet had such gladness and singleness of heart. The Greek word for fellowship in Acts 2:42 is koinonia which means partnership or sharing. The believers became one spiritual body with no division. So strong was their unity that they voluntarily gave up ownership and control of their possessions, sharing with all and without discrimination. Their fellowship bore not just spiritual, but also practical fruit. What made this fellowship possible was doctrinal purity, the foundation and reason for being unwavering, not departing from what the apostles had taught. The fellowship they had was not just a one-off event, but a daily occurrence.

Consider the basis of your fellowship with fellow believers. Is it rooted in the teachings of Christ or worldly interests? Do you value fellowship and is it a regular and important part of your Christian life? The problem we have is that when we enter the church premises, we still see ourselves as individuals, different from others in terms of age, gender, personality etc. Rather, we should see ourselves as part of the body of Christ, bound to each other by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, a bond that ought   to be even closer that familial ties. We have unity in church as all of us subscribe to the same doctrinal stands which impact all facets of our lives; we should thus cast aside our doubts about whether we fit in, and realise we already do! If you do already enjoy this bond of fellowship, then will you not do more to encourage others around you to enjoy it as well?

Thought: How can you deepen fellowship with fellow believers  and share more?
Prayer: May my fellowship with my friends and family be firmly rooted in Your Word.