“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?”
2 Corinthians 6:14 (NKJV)
In the life of the believer, fellowship is not just friendship. It is that deep spiritual, emotional, and intellectual connection we make with those people God places in our lives. Fellowship with our spouse, our family, and our friends is that blessing of God which helps to sustain us during the darkest moments of our lives when God seems far from us. They are God’s manifested grace, mercy, and love to us when we walk in that isolated place we call “loneliness.” Fellowship is powerful and we need it. We were never meant to walk through this life alone.
We can rejoice in God’s choices for us. He has ordained our associations and the places of our habitation. We should not lightly esteem, or walk away from, those whom God has given to us. Fellowship, with the Father and with others, brings healing and wholeness to our hearts. In marriage (and in our fellowship with others) that “threefold cord” with the Holy Spirit is not quickly broken. We can walk confidently into God’s plans for our lives because He upholds us and gives others to us as help for our journey. We do not have to “go it alone.”
Fellowship is imperative and precious.
It is worth our finest efforts.
Never let go.
“Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NKJV)
Copyright © 2012 by Susan E. Johnson
All rights reserved
That image of the three-strand cord, woven together, is an image that I cling to when walking in the relationships God has provided. Even when parts appear frayed, His cord remains strong and able to wind around our weak spots… Thank you for such a wonderful encouragement to start the week!
<3 Shannon
Lovely.
Excellent post! I have enjoyed fellowship in the last couple of years that I never thought possible. The friendships forged in Christ’s love are fire-proof. I have had the enemy try to break these bonds and he succeeds only for a season and then forgiveness and grace jump in to save the day! I chuckle sometimes that once my cell phone was full of fellow drinkers, gamblers, and troublemakers; but now that same phone is full of pastors, Christian friends, and non-profit contacts. I have erased all the old numbers but have not found occassion or motivation to erase any of the new Christian friends (although a couple of times it was close!). I like the fact that you stated “God has ordained” these relationships…I love it! It is a marvelous journey that surely requires one to fasten their seatbelt! If I knew this Christian “thing” was such a blast, I would have found my way home much sooner. People who think that being a Christian is boring are getting their information from the wrong folks…
God bless you and keep up the great work!