Our Fellow-believers

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 10
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As the children of God we have been brought into a marvelous fellowship, not only with God the Father and the Lord Jesus, but also with one another. “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....But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another” (1 John 1:3, 73That 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. (1 John 1:3)
7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)).
It is when we are going through times of real trial that we learn to have a deeper appreciation of this circle of fellowship and of our fellow-believers. When the Apostle Paul, as a prisoner was approaching the imperial city of Rome, we read, “And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage” (Acts 28:1515And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage. (Acts 28:15)). Little did these brethren realize what their effort would mean to God’s prisoner and servant! I suppose Paul appreciated them like never before. It was just the encouragement he needed as the daunting city came into view.
In these difficult days, just before the Lord comes, we need our brethren like never before. And we need to seek grace to help and encourage one another as the inspired writer exhorts us: “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works....Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed” (Hebrews 10:24; 12:12-1324And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (Hebrews 10:24)
12Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. (Hebrews 12:12‑13)).
For myself, until recently I never realized the true worth and need of those who are, “fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:1919Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (Ephesians 2:19)). During my illness every visit, even just five or ten minutes, was valued. To experience at such times the “unfeigned love of the brethren” (1 Peter 1:2222Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (1 Peter 1:22)), enlarges the soul and strengths the bonds that united us in Christ our living head.
To know the love of fellow-saints,
Our souls with joy and sunshine paints,
And cheers us on our weary way,
And gives us purpose for the day;
It lifts our drooping spirits up,
And helps to fill our trembling cup.
What fellowship is ours indeed,
To help and share in every need;
Encouraging each fellow-saint,
With cheerfulness, without complaint:
Without a murmur or a fuss,
Sharing what Christ has given us.
Along with this I have learned to value more the privilege of meeting with other believers for meetings for worship, exposition of the Word of God, breaking of bread, and prayer. Not being able to attend these meetings for some time during my illness made me realize how precious and needful they are. I can truthfully say that my soul is enlarged as to the value of, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:2525Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)). We need to have that same desire and fervency, like those in the early days of Christianity. “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:4242And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42)).