Christ who is our life, our hope, our Savior, the author and finisher of our faith, is also the center of our fellowship.

[i]That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father and the Son. 1 John 1:3[/i]

Excerpt from Watchman Nee [i]Changed Into His Likeness[/i]

"Fellowship is something we should highly prize because God prizes it highly. If there is life in me, and not merely pretense, and if the same is true of my fellow believers, then however simple they may be, when I meet them I should encounter life in them, and encountering it I should appreciate it.

We must learn to value our fellow Christians and not engage in fault-finding or in exposing their weaknesses. For did not Jesus Himself show infinite patience with men, suffering much at their hands? Even His own disciples often put His self-restraint severly to the test."

[i]If there be any consolation in Christ,
if any comfort of love,
if any fellowship of the Spirit,
any bowels of mercies,
fulfill you, my joy, that you be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Phil 2:1&2[/i]

[i]Be of the same mind toward one another.
Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.
Be not wise in your own conceits. Rom 12:16[/i]

Sometimes it seems so far away, so unobtainable- this 'same mind'; yet other times it has seemed to be right there, right at hand with some in prayer, in conversation, in concern, in love. Yet when Paul and the Spirit of God speaks of this fellowship, this 'same mind' they are speaking of the church "at large".

Sometimes that is beyond my grasp. Yet, I know that the patience of Christ, the truth and love and the Holy Spirit- love enough to tell the truth and true enough to tell it with love- are right there and accessible; just as accessible as any other good thing that the Lord would offer.

We are all learning it, we may not always respond to the discipline as we ought; but God is faithful to be teaching us regardless of our "slow" learning. Thank the Lord for that!

But, since my goal, and the goal of most Christians is not just to be a better person- rather to be like Christ. I pray that as we seek the revival of home and church, of holiness, and of truth; that true fellowship- the humble kind, the patient kind, the kind that is with the Father and the Son, the kind that does away with "I" and exalts HIM- would be a part of that desire as well.
(I'm sure it is for many)

[i]For even Christ did not please Himself.....

Now may the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.[/i]
Rom 15:3,5,6

Just a thought.

Love in Christ,
Lori

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Lori Salyer