Enjoying Fellowship with God

Key Verse to Read and Treasure

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. (I John 1:1-3, ESV)

For Insight

If those who sentenced John the Apostle to the Island of Patmos thought they would be punishing him by isolating him and denying him the companionship of family, friends, and his ministry peers they didn’t know John very well. They were not acquainted with the disciple who always stayed close to Jesus. They were not aware of his soul’s need to be in fellowship with his Lord. The only thing they managed to accomplish was positioning John where he could enjoy uninterrupted flow and constant fellowship with the Holy Trinity.

Two things about fellowship with the Godhead are:

1.Fellowship cannot happen without recognizing our own sinfulness. We cannot say we have fellowship with God and deny who we are at the core of our being: sinners who needed saving. If we reject this truth or deny it, we are just lying to ourselves and cannot be in fellowship with God (Read I John 1:8-9). God is light and the truth is light. To deny our sinfulness is to remain in darkness and at a distance from God. God will come into our darkness to get us, deliver us from darkness but he won’t remain in our darkness. He invites us into his light. Taking us from darkness to light so we can thrive.

2. Fellowship is not acquaintance. To be acquainted with someone or something means we may have a basic or fundamental knowledge or understanding but not depth or intimacy. Acquaintanceship is fringe living and positioning. We may know of someone or have heard something about them but cannot say we have personal, intimate relationship or knowledge. Someone you see at the grocery store weekly or periodically is not your friend. You may know their name and that they have three children, or they like the same ice cream you do but that does not mean you fellowship. Friendship, like fellowship, requires getting to know, being in the presence of and sharing life.

Similarly, just going to church on Sunday or special occasions does not make you a worshipper. Or because you pray every once and a while when life gets tough or remember to pray for others every now and then does not make you a prayer warrior. John describes fellowship with God as hearing, seeing, and touching. God is relatable. He can be heard. We can see him at work in our life and in the world around us. We can touch him as he touches us. There is no greater, more intimate relationship we can enjoy than this.      

God invites you into fellowship so you can share in the fullness of the Holy Trinity. So you can enjoy the entirety of all that comes with and through them: love, joy, peace, patience, forgiveness, wisdom, healing, strength, insight, understanding, rest, blessings that begin today and are carried over into eternity.

Holy Lord and God I do not want a distanced relationship but the fullness of life that comes from fellowshipping with you. I pray draw me close to you, Lord! Amen    

Ask Yourself

Does my fellowship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit result in hearing, seeing, and touching? Is there any part of my relationship with God feel lacking? Do I yearn for deeper intimacy and fellowship? Have I put my yearning into prayer?

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