Fellowship–A Close and Abiding Relationship

Dear Church Family,

What do you think of when you hear the word “fellowship?” I think of a close and abiding relationship. One where there’s nothing between you and that other person. I also think of the joy of being in that special kind of relationship. I’ve started 1 John in my quiet times and that word dominates chapter one. John writes this letter to invite us into the wonder of fellowship with God and one another.

We know that God has done everything needed to bring us back into fellowship with Himself. That’s the beauty of the Gospel. So, the question I had from this chapter was, “Am I experiencing the full extent of fellowship with God and God’s family? If not, whose fault is it?” John compares God to light and challenges us to walk in the light. If I’m not experiencing His light in my life, it’s not that He has become less bright. It’s that I’ve stepped out of the light.

This isn’t to say that every step of our walk will be easy or that we will experience God as dramatically every moment. There are mountain top experiences and times back down in the valley. We admit, along with the psalmists that we sometimes wonder, “Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1) There are certainly dark seasons of the soul and difficult times to sense God’s presence and fellowship. One question we do need to ask in these times is, “Have I stepped away from the light?” We need to consider John’s word, “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:6).

Is there anything keeping you from fellowship with God? Are you walking in darkness, yet surprised that you lack fellowship with God? How does John tell us to make things right?