Hollywood Prayer Network On FellowshipEgzanp

INTIMATE FELLOWSHIP

"It goes against the grain to give an image of oneself that is anything less than perfect, and many Christians imagine that they will be rejected by others if they admit to any faults. But nothing could be more destructive to Christian koinonia (fellowship) than the common practice today of pretending not to have any problems." Ray C. Stedman

PRAY:  Dear Father in Heaven, I thank You for giving us friends and family to live life with. I realize that I need fellowship in order to feel loved, to gain perspective and wisdom on issues in life, and to experience compassion and camaraderie as I laugh, cry, sing, and hurt together in community. Please show me how I can be better in fellowship with others and how we can be more unified as the body of Christ. Amen.

REFLECT:  In reading these two verses, the Israelites sat weeping and fasting together in Judges and they talked with each other in Malachi, notice how they got through difficult times together. They didn't face life's struggles alone. Do you have healthy fellowship with your friends, family, work associates, and neighbors? Do you walk through life in fellowship? If not, what do you need to do to create the fellowship that God intends for all of us?

ACT:  Think about the times in your life that you got through because you could cry with others, talk with others, or just be with others. Are you vulnerable enough to share your life in fellowship with others? If so, praise God for that and choose to intentionally spend more time in fellowship with other believers. If not, take steps to open up more with the people you trust whom God has put in your life so that you can create richer, deeper fellowship with others.