Links Of Fellowship!

In this life there may be individuals we will “patronize” without our life actually coming into a close RELATIONSHIP with theirs. In fact there may be some with whom fellowship is not able to be made possible. To “patronize” is defined as being a customer or client of and “patronage” is the trade of customers. If we approach Christ only from the standpoint of carrying on business or what we can get from Him, that does not indicate much of a RELATIONSHIP. We cannot buy the services He has rendered to make our life and salvation possible. And if we are only out to get what we can from others within the body of Christ, that does not speak well of those RELATIONSHIPS either. It is not patronage, but fellowship that Christ seeks from us and to be enjoyed with one another.

Writing to Christians, John stated his purpose in writing as…
“(3) that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, SO THAT you too MAY HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH US; and indeed our FELLOWSHIP IS WITH THE FATHER AND WITH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.” ( 1 John 1:3 ESV)

Fellowship (Gk. “koinonia”) refers to a close mutual association. It is a SHARING or PARTICIPATION WITH another. It is a “having in common” (koinos). [source: W. E. Vine’s Exp. Dict. Of N. T. Words] John wrote “so that” such genuine fellowship with the Lord and with one another would be experienced.

John went on to point out that if one claims to have fellowship with God, yet walks in darkness, the claim is a lie. ( 1 John 1:6) Fellowship with each other and with Him means we are walking in the light. ( 1 John 1:7) There is no fellowship between light and darkness. ( 2 Corinthians 6:14) However, remember the power light can have over darkness.

John further described the picture of such fellowship later in his letter when he wrote…
“(23) And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and LOVE ONE ANOTHER, just as he has commanded us. (24) WHOEVER KEEPS HIS COMMANDMENTS ABIDES IN HIM, AND HE IN THEM. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.” ( 1 John 3:23-24 ESV)

Such is the picture of being genuinely CONNECTED to the Lord and to one another. Are we experiencing the comfortableness of such fellowship? Do we feel a closeness of heart and mind with the Lord and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? Are we contributing effort in maintaining the fellowship in mutually edifying ways? Fellowship implies RELATIONSHIP and SHARING. May it be genuine with our Lord and with each other in His body.

Have a great day ENJOYING GENUINE CAMARADERIE IN CHRIST!
Carl

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