The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 10 May 2024 – Fellowship In Christ
TOPIC: Fellowship In Christ
READ: Philippians 1: 1-11 (NKJV)
- Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
- Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
- always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
- for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,
- being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete [it] until the day of Jesus Christ;
- just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.
- For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
- And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,
- that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
- being filled with the fruits of righteousness which [are] by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
THE MESSAGE:
The Merriam Webster English Dictionary defines communion as an act of sharing, or intimate fellowship or rapport. Paul the Apostle clearly reveals the kind of relationship between him and the Church in Philippi. He remembered them always and prayed for them with joy. He had them at heart and enjoyed unbroken fellowship with them. The Church is also actively part of the life and ministry of Paul, sharing in his chains. Apart from supporting his testimonies of intimacy with the Church with the fact that God is a witness, he also demonstrated this in his prayer in verses 9-11.
Living in an intimate fellowship in the body of Christ encourages growth with less effort (Acts 2: 44-47). Church leaders at all levels are expected to live and encourage unity among members of the body, and the people themselves must reciprocate their leaders’ actions. The intimate fellowship that exists between Jesus and His disciples should be a model for the Church. Intimate fellowship is one of the messages we deduce at the institution of the Holy Eucharist and living in intimate fellowship helps us share in one another’s successes and challenges. Intimate communion sustains the Church and keeps it growing. “Bear one another’s burden, and so fulfil the law of Christ“ (Galatians 6:2).
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Does your local Church, fellowship or family share in the blessings and pains of her members
