“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3 NIV
As you may know, I am teaching a Bible study with my friend, Robyn. We are teaching through 1, 2, and 3 John. Each week we take turns teaching a portion of scripture. A few weeks ago, Robyn taught on the first part of chapter one of 1 John. And she had such a great nugget that I have to share it with you.
We examined the word fellowship. When you think of fellowship what do you think of? Me, I think of spending time with people. But that’s not everything it means.
You see, it means what’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine. Stop for a moment and think on that with this verse. John is writing to believers telling them that what’s his is theirs and what’s theirs is his. Isn’t that what we see in the early church in Acts? They took care of each other. I like that and it resonates with me, but honestly that didn’t rock my world. I have always thought of what belongs to me really is for the Lord to do with as He would choose. Sharing is not hard for me. If you need something that I have, I’m happy to share with you.
And then she expounded on the next part of the verse. The part that says, “And our fellowship is with the Father and with his son, Jesus Christ.” That part blew me out of the water. God the Father is saying to us, “What’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine.” I sat on that for quite a bit.
Our God does not just offer us salvation, a life of no condemnation, love, forgiveness, comfort, and I could go on. But He says to us, all I have is yours. All of it! And what’s rocking my world is all I have is His.
Life can be hard at times, it is for me. But when I’m in a hard spot, God says to me, give me your hard stuff. Give me your hurt. Give me your broken heart. And let me give you what’s mine. Love. Peace. Comfort.
I went home and wrote on the chalkboard in my kitchen, “Fellowship with God.” These last few months have been trying. I find myself looking at that chalkboard and remembering that He takes my yuck and replaces it with joy.
Today, mediate on the word fellowship. What do you have that God is saying let me take it and replace it with joy?
