Don’t
Give Up Fellowshipping
Let us not give up meeting together, as
some are in the habit of doing…
Hebrews 10:25
Bruce and Jean hadn’t been to church
in over a year. Instead, they watched televangelists on Sunday
morning. Their reasoning? They couldn’t find a church in which they
felt comfortable. They had broken off all spiritual connections with
anyone outside their family. The past year had seen a loss of
spiritual insight and an increase in spiritual skepticism; especially
where their extended family and friends were concerned.
Family members had encouraged them to
return to their former church or find a new one, lovingly citing a
need for all of God’s children to fellowship with one-another in
order to maintain a healthy spiritual perspective.
But Bruce and Jean had discarded their
family’s good intentions, claiming nobody understood!
They had no intention of discussing the matter, or considering
there was anything wrong with their relationship with God. Hence, it
escaped their notice that they had become closed-minded in their
assessment of all spiritual matters, judiciously applying or
discarding each TV message to suit their own needs.
†
When we isolate, when we are not
exposed to a corporate revelation of God through church fellowship
and its relational benefits, we begin to filter everything through
our own personal spiritual ideology, thus becoming closed-minded and
growth-stunted.
Serious spiritual and physical
consequences are just over the horizon when we isolate ourselves
spiritually. Satan sets us up by reiterating that we don’t need
anyone but ourselves. The ensuing tunnel-vision causes us to shrivel
on the vine. We fail to consider that God would use someone else’s
walk to help shape our own, creating a false sense of superior
understanding. First we think, and eventually believe, God speaks
to me differently than He does anyone else! I have a special
relationship with God!
We are not meant to stand alone. God,
through Paul, calls us to persevere in the faith by encouragement
through fellowship. If you aren’t in a church fellowship, God
suggests you find one and attend regularly.
Prayer
“Help me understand the
importance of meeting with other Christians, Lord, so I never isolate
myself spiritually. And teach me to listen for Your voice when they
speak. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
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