Word For Today
1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
As I read these verses I am reminded that the Christian life is a relationship. First, it is a relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation moves me from the state of enmity and death to the privileged status of eternal life and relationship with God. We speak much of this relationship and rightly so. We should strive to maintain the relationship at all times. The relationship remains unbroken as long as we
walk in the light, as he is in the light. (1 John 1:7) Failure to do so means we are not enjoying the fellowship we can with the Father. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (1 John 1:6) What we don't seem to emphasize enough is the natural result of fellowship with God is fellowship with one another. All of I John 1:7 says: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another. The implication is that if we are in fellowship with God we will also be in fellowship with other believers. This then is manifested in our obedience to the command given by Jesus to love one another. This genuine love for other believers is evidence of having passed from death unto life. It is evidence of salvation.
The unwillingness of many believers to enter into meaningful, ongoing relationships with other believers is a serious hindrance to our reaching the world with the gospel. Jesus said: By this (our love for one another) shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35
Untold numbers of people claiming to be saved limit their relationship to others who claim to be saved to their association at church. They are cordial to each other, even work together in church projects but beyond the confines of the church work they have no relationship.
How can we demonstrate Christ's love when we have no true relationship with other believers outside the confines of the church facility? Surely the world is not impressed when we cordially get alone for a common goal for a brief and define period of time, they can and do the same thing for certain employment or community projects.
The world takes note when they see believers who have a genuine, loving, relationship which is part of the everyday life. Yet we have many excuses as to why we cannot or do not associate and fellowship and demonstrate love one to another beyond our limited church work relationship.
What are some of the excuses? "I don't have the time, I work so much, there just isn't time." "I am not the outgoing type. I am naturally timid. Others would have to initiate such a relationship." "I am more of a private person. I like being alone, to myself." "I have in the past and been hurt by too many people." "People don't like me." "I don't know how to be a friend." The excuses are endless but in the end they are all selfish. Christ has given us a command to love one another. John furthered this by saying: My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:18) Let's determine to do more than just say "I love others," lets put it into genuine practice.
Forrest Jones
