by Brother Matt Henson
I grew up in the church and through my travels, I have attended numerous local churches for Sunday morning worship experiences. I commonly hear the following statements: “After worship today, we will have a fellowship time (i.e. coffee, doughnuts, and juice).” After Sunday School today, there will be a fellowship meal (i.e. potluck, lucky pot, carry-in dinner, etc.).”For many years, I thought fellowship and food were synonymous; I thought fellowship was a time set apart away from worship or study.
In 1 John 1:3-4 we read, “We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.” He later writes, “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”
Fellowship, as seen in John’s letter, speaks to the sharing of our faith and our experience of God with one another. Our fellowship goes beyond our feeding our stomachs to the place of feeding our minds and our souls. It is in fellowship where we not only fellowship with one another, but through our fellowship with one another, we are united with God and his Son, Jesus. Our relational life grows as we embark on the adventure of sharing life with one another, leading to a deeper accountability and encouragement in our lives.
How are we in fellowship with one another? Do we spend intentional time sharing our faith and our experience of God? Let’s make time in our lives to share a meal, while feeding our relationships, spirits, and minds with a growing faith.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the fellowship around food. We want more than food for our stomachs. We desire food for our souls, relationships, and minds as well. Draw us to one another and closer to you as we experience deeper fellowship. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
