Fellowship is so important
Let us consider the beauty and blessing of bonding within the fellowship of Believers.
“…not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)
It is vital to our spiritual growth, both as individuals and as a body of Believers, that we assemble together, visit together, bond together.
Weaknesses and strengths
Once upon a time, I wore my heart on my sleeve. When I hurt, friends knew it. Since coming to the LORD, I’ve learned to lean on Him first, to share with Him first — something that came through excellent advice from Rod Anderson, friend, pastor, godfather to my son. I’ve never veered from that advice, at least not that I’m conscious of. What it has meant is that I share far less with others than I did as a younger woman.
Of course the offshoot of this is I’ve learned well how to cope and share less of me than I did as an unbeliever. This is good in that the confidence of the LORD is in me.
But there is another consequence.
I realise I do not find it easy to be vulnerable. I’m not sure when it changed — I think it was rather gradual — but somewhere along the way, I’ve missed out on some opportunities to bond with people. That’s something I seek a healthy balance for: being transparent in strength.
And of course there is accountability
If we face attack (which is usually of the Enemy), it is sometimes manifested through man. Tragically, it is within the church that attack so often comes. Wherever attack originates, is vital that we have fellowship where we are accountable to others.
Healthy fellowship is borne from mutual trust, respect and bonding; we know that if we turn to these others with an accusation, they will pray with us, they will seek the LORD with us, they will not judge but will discern whether we have anything to take to the LORD ourselves in repentance. Equally important — perhaps moreso — is that they know and love us, and can support us through unwarranted attack, standing with us against false accusation.
I pray we each have a clear level of discernment to surround ourselves with an inner circle of Believers with whom we can find mutual support and respect.
There are many reasons for fellowship
“As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs 27:17)
Bonding, unity in prayer, fun, spiritual accountability, personal growth, protection against spiritual attack: these are just some of the reasons why GOD puts us in a family of Believers.
I have been so blessed by others in so many ways. And I hope I too, have been a blessing to others. The mutual friendship of Believers is beautiful to see and to experience, and the blessings that flow through and from it is astounding. We remember always though, our nearest and dearest friend is Jesus.
A note of caution
May we all have discernment and protection by GOD’s dear grace, to navigate our encounters with a measure of love and grace, stewarding our time and attention, so that we can surround ourselves with like-minded, like-hearted people in order to build one another up.
Every blessing