Compassionate Fellowship

I found myself this morning asking God to help me to love Him more truthfully and deeper than I've experienced. He then directed to read the book (or rather letter) of John.

One of the repeated themes in 1 John is the extent we claim to love God is to the measure we love one another.

This is the litmus test of our sincerity to walk in right relationship God and with others. We can't claim to love God while despising our brother and sister (1 John 4:20).

Our love for God and that same love expressed to our Christian brothers and sisters matter for our growth and maturity.

More importantly for the health of the community of believers to be unified especially considering this present dark and confusing age.

In other words, our personal communion (or fellowship) with God will impact not just the church but non-believers. How we treat one another matters for the world is watching us. How we respond in love may tip the balance of eternity for those on the outside desiring to see an authentic Christlike experience.

Consider how the early church responded when the Grecian widows were neglected (Act 6). It matter for those in the church and the lost to see God's love in action. Think of the church eating bread for communion on any given Sunday. What if those same widows took communion in church but went home to empty cupboards?

I must admit that I don't like to connect on a deeper level with those in church. Perhaps it's my introvert nature or I'm exhausted at the end of the week from work. Truth be told there have been some painful experiences that shut me down and made me overly cautious. Sure I can be cordial to shake a hand and greet someone kindly. But if it's the fellowship that John describes in his letter then I'm completely at loss. I'm certain that I have some odd habits. So this is not a criticism on any particular individual but it can be a challenge with differences in cultures, personalities or way people behave that I rather much avoid.

Beloved, we must ask God to increase our capacity to love beyond our self imposed borders. True love demands understanding which means listening and engaging with another brother or sister despite the differences. It's too easy to isolate and insulate ourselves.

In closing, remember the words of John: "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (1 John 3:17, KJV).