fellowship

We can spend our lives on so many worthwhile and interesting (to us, at least) activities. These draw our full attention. And we want nothing to get in the way of them. But in the end, what do we often have?

Fellowship with God, and with each other is really a treasure we should seek daily. As Paul reminds us, "10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death," (Philippians 3; NIV).

Fellowship is mutual. It is a loving interactivity of "give and take" with each other. First with God in Christ by the Spirit. We are in fellowship, by faith in Jesus, with no less than the Triune God. And for us in Jesus, as we've already been reminded, it is a participation in him, which includes fulfilling something of his sufferings as his Body here on earth. We are marked people here. Even if many don't know that. Our fellowship with him marks us as those who are of another place. Who work to bring good into this world, but really are not of this world (John 17:14-16).

I was laying in the medical facility awaiting a standard procedure, with my dear wife. Thinking about how much deeper I need to go in fellowship (those places sometimes inspire "the end" thinking). With God, and with my loved ones, with friends and now, as I sit here, extending that fellowship, even as Jesus did, to sinners like myself (after all, we're all, in Jesus, recovering sinners). This will involve alot of prayer, even as our Lord lived that out on earth. And good listening. And then conversing, speaking and acting out of love. The love of Jesus.

Father, Let me love my wife and daughter, my sisters and brothers, my friends, neighbors and co-workers, with the love of Jesus. By the love of the Spirit. In your family love. Amen.