The Oxford dictionary defines the word fellowship to mean 'friendly association, especially with people who share one’s interests'. In our case, as Christians, our common interest is or course Christ (it's in the name). So when we talk about fellowship in church, we are really just talking about being friendly with other people who go to church. I often find that actually doing what the Bible tells us to do is really difficult and that the instructions it sets before us seem hard to relate to my own life. However, I think that when it is put in a form such as 'meeting with your Christian mates and having a chat about life and your faiths', it can seem rather a lot easier.
This weekend I have been at a reunion for a Christian camp I went on in the summer. The camp is the best place I have ever been and both years I have been, I have definitely grown in my faith. I think that the biggest part of camp are the leaders who are amazing and make the whole week so great. The other youth members are so supportive and caring too so together it feels like a huge family. I often find myself missing camp and the times we had together, but most of all I miss the Brambletye (name of the camp) family. This weekend has made me realise more than ever how fantastic and important it is to have a whole load of Christian friends who support you, pray for you and love you like siblings: fulfilling the ever-so-cringey phrase of 'sisters in Christ!' We all have troughs and peaks in our journey with Christ and during the hard times we often need someone to chat to; someone who we know won't judge us, and someone who will continue praying for us even when we ourselves stop praying for us. These people of course must be Christians, so while I encourage having a wide network of non-Christian friends, it is more important ,in my opinion, to have supportive and caring Christian friends surrounding you. One of my best friends is a girl from camp who I have actually only met for two weeks and two weekends in my whole life, yet through the wonder which is Skype,letters and prayer, we have formed the most unbreakable bond and she is more than a sister to me. She is the one I go to when I am desperate as I often feel that my parents may judge me if it is them who I tell. This sort of relationship with a Christian friend is what fellowship is all about (no I am not trying to say that my friend and I are showing a perfect relationship of fellowship). We need friends and often family around us to support us on our journey with Christ; to love us and help us grow in faith. This is why it is so vital that we practise fellowship with other Christians. Just note that you need to give as much into the relationship as they do in order for you all to gain the maximum amount possible out of it. God will of course help you as a group and you need to keep him in sight at all times.
1 John 1:7 (NIV) "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
So to sum up: God is good and acts through others in fellowship to help us build our relationship with Him and our Christian friends. If we want to be like Jesus, we should practise fellowship-Jesus had fellowship with many people, mainly His disciples and as the verse above tells us, we can be purified of our sins and have fellowship with one another if we walk in the light. Christian friends are the best and God will work through your troubles, often using these people so by sustaining strong relationships with friends, you are giving God another option through which He can reach you.
I hope this post has been interesting and helpful. I would love any comments and/or feedback you have.
God Bless
Esther
