Outside of the dynamic preaching and worship time we experience in attending church, the fellowship of the saints is a true blessing. The major difference in Christianity’s message, compared to other belief systems, is that God builds a relationship with His people. He covenants with us. That means that He pledges to be our beneficent God when we pledge ourselves to follow His guidance and direction. We are to have no other gods before Him, which means, nothing in this world is more important that our worship and our seeking His will for our lives. And the fellowship of believers and the communion of saints, the cloud of witnesses to His sovereignty refreshes our souls that are weary with the troubles of this mortal world.
There is nothing more fulfilling than knowing that we are not our own, but belong to our Savior, Jesus Christ who is God incarnate, living in our world. He willingly left the glory and splendor of heaven to live among us in one of the most difficult times in history–the Roman Empire’s oppression. For us He defied the authorities of a sin-filled world, much like ours today, for, really, there is nothing new under the sun. Power is corrupt. God calls it sin.
I know, because the Bible says it will happen. Belief in a figure like Jesus sounds like folly to many. but, to those who know Him as Lord, we have a fellowship relationship which passes all man’s understanding. Because of Jesus, the equity problem is solved. There is no difference between man and woman, rich or poor, people from every nation, tribe, language group will ultimately recognize–in terror or celebration–that Jesus Christ is Lord.
1 Peter 5:6-7 says, “so humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in His good time He will honor you. Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about what happens to you.” Jesus said it this way: “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(Matther 11:28-29)
If you’re troubled by what you see on the news, or in broken relationships with your family, or the inhumanity of wars, immorality, counter cultural travesty, or depravity, those can be cleansed from our thinking by prayer, knowing that the God who created us pledges His sovereign plan to believers who hear His covenant promise. That’s the good news and encouragement. Let’s just see what God accomplishes in ’23!
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