The Fellowship of the Church

Isn’t the world off it’s rocker! I can hardly watch the news any more. The priorities, values, and thought processes of this world remind me that, by God’s grace, I am now a citizen of another kingdom. The king of the kingdom of which I have been made a citizen is not able to be corrupted, he doesn’t take bribes or play politics.
It has been said that countries get the leadership that they deserve. I believe that thesis holds true for the good ole’ USA. But, in this kingdom whose king is Christ, that idea is turned on it’s head. We are recipients of grace - we have received what we don’t deserve. The results are too glorious to comprehend!
One of the many facets of the outworking of this grace of God in His people is the relationships between them as citizens of His kingdom. He calls us the Church of Jesus Christ. We are a nation called from among the nations of this world. We are the only nation who has a king we don’t deserve and He has given us a love we don’t deserve.
Here’s what is really amazing, as citizens of this kingdom, we have been given the Spirit of our king. I can love and relate to my fellow citizens in ways they don’t deserve and they can find the supernatural ability to love me in a way I certainly don’t deserve. This is called the fellowship of the church. It is God’s people loving and caring for and enjoying each other.
We see this in the Apostle Paul’s closing comments at the end of the book of Colossians. He is expressing his gratefulness for those God has placed in his life. Faithful friends who, together with him, fight the good fight of faith and put the love of the king on display.
“Tychicus is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.” “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may be mature and fully assured in all the will of God.”
I say all this to express my joy in and my gratefulness for the people of God. As imperfect as we are there is nothing like the fellowship of God’s people when we are living according to His Word and being led by His Spirit.
The day is coming when “The kingdoms of this earth will become the kingdom of our God.” The sweetness of the fellowship of the church now is just a little taste of the richness of the joy we will know then. May we give ourselves to praying for and sharing the Gospel with those who are only citizens of this world so they may too have a king they don’t deserve.

Enjoying the Fellowship,
Billy Hires