Fellowship…

Fellowship…

These are the regulations for the fellowship offering anyone may present to the Lord: (Leviticus 7:11)

Among the various types of offerings to be presented to the Lord, there is the fellowship offering which anyone may present to Him. (Cf. Leviticus 7:11-38) The people were instructed, “When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf.” (Leviticus 19:5) Indeed, there were many instructions regarding fellowship offerings written in the Mosaic ordinances. Their purpose was to offer thanksgiving to God and to rejoice in His presence! How timely is this word as we end another Thanksgiving Day…. 

Fellowship is what we experienced as a family during the Thanksgiving Holiday. There was a time of warm companionship … enjoying the closeness of each other. Around the dining room table, there were memories recalled and relived for a moment. There were bonds of love and joy shared in our hearts. Yes, it was a fellowship offering before the Lord as we rejoiced in Him with gratitude for all His blessings….

In Scripture, fellowship is the mark of community among believers. In the early church, they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42) Believers are admonished to consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds; not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25) And Jesus commanded: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)

My friends, we were created for fellowship – fellowship with God and with each other! For love can only be expressed within the context of relationship. It has no meaning or purpose otherwise. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:10) And Paul affirmed: “God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:9)

John envisioned that we might have fellowship with other believers and with the Father and His Son. (1 John 1:3) But John cautioned: “If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:6-7) Indeed, let us be mindful of the sacredness of fellowship! Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2-3)

Have a Blessed Day!