Fellowship: A Blessed Obligation

 

"We love each other and cherish the fellowship of God's people."

The first question found in the Heidelberg Catechism is, "What is your only comfort in life and death?" Provoking question, isn't it?

The answer may surprise you. The catechism responds, "That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ."

I propose that you could give someone the same answer if you were asked, "What is the reason for your commitment to your local church?"

These devotionals I write on Tuesday mornings are based on our church's core values. You'll notice that this core value highlights the reality that "we"--together, collectively--are "God's people." We belong to Him. He possesses us. We are not our own. He owns us all. We are His church, and He has a special sovereign care for His church as His people.

These realities should drive our fellowship.

There are certain civic organizations I've been a part of, that, after my time of fulfilling obligations, I've ceased to meet with. My passion for gathering with them fizzled; my commitment to the people decreased. This should never be the case regarding my relationship with the church. I belong ("with body and soul, both in life and in death") to my Creator. The church, as a whole, belongs to Him, as the bride of Jesus Christ. Consequently (and logically), we Christians belong to one another, as members of the same body (1 Corinthians 12:14-26).

So, we must not suppose that we cherish the fellowship of each other because we have deemed this to be most reasonable and beneficial for ourselves. Rather, we hold this devotion toward one another in recognition of the reality that we don't belong to ourselves, but to God, who has put us together in this family for His glory and our good.

We are the temple of God, and His Spirit dwells within us (1 Corinthians 3:16); therefore, let us cherish one another in love (Romans 12:9-10).