Joy In Fellowship

In a church family people share the Joy of Fellowship together, whether in a small group environment, Sunday morning Bible Study, Sunday night movie nights, potluck dinners or Sunday morning celebration.  Members have a sense of belonging, of being connected with people. Knowing that if they don’t show up, someone will notice, knowing that people care if you show up or not.

 “A community is a group of people who matter to you, and to whom you matter.” And a church should be like a community, a group of people united to one another by their union to Christ and their love for one another.  “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed, if one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

We need one another. It’s as simple as that. We need one another for encouragement when we stumble, for mutual protection when we’re being attacked, for strength when we’re under stress.

Members know what it takes to have joy and fellowship in most situations. They know what to do, they just don’t do it? Why would someone not want to be a part of the joy of fellowship?  The Bible says in Hebrews 12:14; “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; see to it that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

Like a small root that grows into a great tree, bitterness springs up in hearts and overshadows even the deepest relationships. A poisonous root of bitterness comes when some allow disappointment to grow into resentment, or when they nurse grudges over past hurts. Bitterness brings with it jealousy, dissension and immorality. This bitterness can be devastating. “Bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die” The other person continues their life, and may be happy and content, and never even think about you, but because you hold bitterness for them, they continue to control your life.

If you should face such a situation, consider letting go of something that is holding you back from the true Joy of Fellowship that God desires for each and every one of us.

Bitterness has been medically linked to glandular problems, high blood pressure, cardiac disorders, ulcers, and even insanity. One leading psychiatrist wrote, “90% of all people in insane asylums could be released immediately if they would learn how to forgive, or how to be forgiven.”

In Christian love, build a bridge and get over it! Don’t remain a prisoner of bitterness. Forgiveness is offered, take it and put the joy back in your fellowship, the Fellowship that can be found as a member of a church family. If you haven’t been to a church lately give it a try. Those that belong already know what I mean.