Fellowship. It’s more than just a social interaction; it’s a bond built on shared faith and a love for God! It’s our spiritual connection with one another through our faith in Jesus Christ.
The word fellowship, according to Merriam–Webster, is companionship, company, or looking for the fellowship of friendly people.
Fellowship is a community of believers that supports and encourages one another to help grow in faith, offer encouragement, and share in the joys and burdens of life. It’s those who come alongside you when you are sick or diagnosed with a terminal illness, to help with all the physical and emotional needs we carry.
Fellowship is a discipleship, where we learn from each other, teach one another, and grow in our understanding and following of Jesus.
Fellowship is prayer, worship, Bible study, community outreach, and other activities that draw us closer together and closer to Jesus.
Fellowship is a sense of belonging; it’s a family, and it creates a sense of community where we can find support and encouragement in our faith journey together.
One of my favorite scriptures is Matthew 18:20. It says,
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.“
I also like Hebrews 10:25, which says,
“…not neglecting the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the Day approaching.”
I see fellowship as a key ingredient in a relationship, because without it, we can find ourselves discouraged, alone, and easy targets for the enemy. In the Old Testament, the disciples met regularly and “devoted themselves to teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” ~ Acts 2:42.
As I seek God more, I want to know Him more. He desires fellowship with each of us daily. I find Him in His Word, and when I sit quietly before Him. At times when I can’t hear God, it is when He is teaching me something, or I’ve neglected to engage Him in what I’m going through. God wants to fellowship with us, commune with us, and grow our relationship with Him. He is the author of fellowship. He created us to worship Him and be a part of His family in a relationship with Him. If we aren’t, it’s just empty religion. We have to press into the heart of God, to know His character, to be known by Him.
As we fellowship within the body of Christ, we see God‘s hand in the midst of it. As Proverbs 27:17 tells us,
“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.“
We can sharpen one another through this beautiful time of fellowship. We are to encourage one another, pray for one another, and help one another.
When we gather together with a friend or a spouse and share testimonies or stories about what God is doing in our lives, it spurs us on to do it more. It puts wind in our sails and a fire in our bones. At the same time, fellowship can bring us to pray for one another during times of brokenness and loss. God has called us to love one another and to serve one another, so why would we neglect such a beautiful command? Galatians 6:2, He tells us to “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” If we aren’t fellowshipping, we aren’t finding out what others need or what burden they may need help with.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says it best:
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But whoa to him who is alone when he falls, he has no one to help him up.”
God never meant for us to be alone or to be separate from Him or from others. Fellowship is real, beautiful, necessary, and, most importantly, ordained by God.
There are literally hundreds of scriptures on fellowship. Take a little dive into God’s Word and check it out for yourself. I think you will come away encouraged and look for more ways to fellowship with God and with His people.
One last scripture, Hebrews 13:16, says,
“Do not neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
So let’s all enjoy the gift from God of fellowship with Him and one another.
💜Beth Nahkala
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#bethnahkalablogs