preparations of the Bride: fellowship

We were created for community... by God: Father, Son, Spirit... who lives in community in and of Himself...

Fellowship... prepares us for The Day...

The Bride... the Church... is singular... yet many... In Her we find unity in diversity... yet...

For a people who claim one Lord, one faith and one baptism, we are not one church but exist in isolation, judgment, suspicion and condemnation.

---James Bryan Smith, The Good and Beautiful Community

In this broken world, we see a broken Church... diversity leading to division... division based on fear... A ridiculous fear... the members of the Church form one body... to be afraid of others in the body is like our nose fearing our own hand... or our feet afraid of our arms...

We are one... each member created to help the others... hands needed to scratch the nose... arms needed to put on socks and shoes...

When we allow ourselves to be divided from other Believers... either individually or denominationally... we harm ourselves and grieve God...

Cultivating fellowship is key to preparing for The Day...

In community we face opportunities to exercise our new attitudes... or recognize the need for an attitude adjustment...

In community we interact with others who are closer than we to loving God whole-heartedly... we see what it looks like... encouraged we grow... we meet others whom we can help... others who have not walked as far as we...

In community we discover opportunities to serve... using supernatural gifts... teaching... healing... comforting...

Preparation in fellowship fulfills the second part of the greatest command...

...Love your neighbor as yourself...

Seek fellowship in community...

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:25

We need each other... only all-together... do we make one Bride... the mystery of Christ...

Lord Jesus, help me to recognize my need for others... and accept my part in the body... Grow me in love... grace... humility... Heal the places in me that keep me separated from others... those who are members along with me...

Do you embrace the idea of one Church ...all Believers supernaturally connected to others? How does this truth reveal itself in your life?