The following is an excerpt from our daily devotional series “Back to the Basics,” written by IFA contributing writer Gloria Robles.

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer (Acts 2:42 NLT).

View Comments (2)

Here we see the disciples engaged in fellowship. They were devoted — or committed — to one another. In the book of Acts we find the apostles meeting together regularly in various homes or synagogues or in the temple, and they were never alone. We were created for fellowship with God and with each other. We were never meant to do life alone, or the Lord would never have said: “It is not good for man to be alone.” Although that verse initially spoke of the union of Adam and Eve, it applies to all of us in our fellowship too. Though many are unable for various reasons to fellowship with others in a physical location, we should have godly people around us who will bring “church” to us if we are unable to fellowship physically. Even if we have only one person to physically study or pray with, we can remember the words of the Lord Jesus: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matt. 18:20 NIV).

This content is supported by your donations.
Give today.

We need like-minded believers to talk with and pray with, and to encourage us, warn us, and, yes, even hold us accountable at times. We are told never to abandon or neglect our coming together in fellowship — and yet, this is sadly enough what many have done.

And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching (Heb. 10:24–25 AMPC).

Fellowship was nonnegotiable to the early Church, but we have reduced it to being optional, based on how we may happen to be feeling that day. We as Christians have fought each other over this for far too long. Many refuse to belong to a local church, and this is mainly for two reasons: feelings of personal offense; and an individual lack of accountability.

The giving or taking of offense is a tool of Satan. It ruins relationships, and it divides churches, but this is nothing new. In Acts 6, we see a related problem arise within a rapidly growing church: Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution (Acts 6:1).

The Greek widows complained that they weren’t receiving the same material support as the Hebrew widows. Can you imagine how this would have panned out in today’s Church? Slander, accusation, bashing of the leaders, departures from the church, and gossip — all these are typical reactions today. But in this biblical account, the apostles instead chose to work together, to pray, and to find a godly solution, and thereby a crisis was averted. That church did not split; instead, it continued to grow in numbers.

Because the early Church was so committed to being relational, the apostles recognized that only God could bring a solution to save the ministry, and He did.

Not every problem in your church has to end in bitter feelings of offense and disconnection. The people who reject fellowship probably say: “I don’t need to go to church; we are the church.” But these are likely the same people who have been hurt by the actions of some Christians and who have left the local church as a result of the offense.

Though it is true that we are the Church, we are also a body made up of many members. In 1 Corinthians 12:12–27, Paul uses an analogy of the human body to describe the Church. Each piece is equally important to the body as a whole, that passage notes, but only when all the members are connected. Your hand is certainly a vital member of your body, but if it is disconnected from the rest of your arm, it won’t function. Your hand has to be connected.

We all have those in our lives with whom we spend time: coworkers, family members, friends, neighbors. This is good. But we have failed in this one thing: We have not made Christian fellowship a priority. As a result, our children — and they are the next generation — have a lowered appreciation of church. If we as adults have failed to make true fellowship a priority, how can we expect our children or grandchildren to do so?

Reflection: 

Take this time to examine your heart before the Lord: Do you tend to treat Christian fellowship casually? Do you avoid church because you have been offended by some brother or sister in the Lord? Or is it that fellowship is simply not a priority in your life? It’s time to come back to the house of God. Come back to fellowship with one another. Come back to the family of God.

Prayer: 

Father, Jesus didn’t die merely to make us a church; He died to make us one family. Forgive me for allowing offenses to keep me from loving my brothers and sisters as I should. Forgive me if I have been an offense to someone else. I hereby surrender any offense done to me. Help me release any bitterness I may be holding onto and which has thus hardened my heart. Heal my heart, Lord. I know I need healthy and godly relationships. Help me to reconnect to the fellowship with other Christians. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

… that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3 NKJV).

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing (1 Thess. 5:11).

And all who believed were together and had all things in common (Acts 2:44).

Share this article to encourage other believers to be relational!

IFA contributing writer Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor and listen to her podcast, Something To Share. Photo Credit: Canva.