#Jesus - Daily DevotionalsSample

#BeAFriend (Chlöisu Burkhalter)

In my surrounding, there are many people who believe in God but are not willing to commit to joining a church or a Smallgroup. Most of them indeed desire dependable relationships. Some have been hurt or are scared of too much intimacy and being committed. Others are not ready to take the time that faithful relationships require. Thus, they try to walk their path with God in their daily life alone.

If there were ever one person whom I could have confidence to lead his everyday life on this earth alone and have a relationship to God without any other people around, it would be Jesus. However, when Jesus started serving publicly, the first thing he did was chose his disciples. He shared his heart and life with these twelve men and built God’s kingdom with them. Time and again, Jesus also offered other people to be in fellowship with him.

Jesus decided to have fellowship because God’s kingdom does not exist without fellowship. Jesus did not only live in this manner here on earth. The Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit have lived in close fellowship all the time. And in the same way, you and I are created for fellowship.

The first Christians also lived in close fellowship and shared everything with each other. This is the original meaning of church. Life in fellowship is not only one possible way to have our relationship to God. It is the only way, which Jesus has revealed to us.

Actionstep:

Where do you emotionally or completely pull yourself away from relationships – in your church, Smallgroup, family, marriage, friendships? Which areas are you not ready to open up to other people? In which relationships has the time come for you to invest again?