October 12, 2011

 

Transliteration: koinónia
Phonetic Spelling: (koy-nohn-ee’-ah)
Short Definition: participation, communion, fellowship
Definition: (lit: partnership) (a) contributory help, participation, (b) sharing in, communion, (c) spiritual fellowship, a fellowship in the spirit.  properly, what is shared in common as the basis of fellowship (partnership, community)

 

This is another word that Christians use often that the rest of the world does not.  We often use this word when referring to our Christian brothers and sisters.

 

But on Monday the verse that was highlighted was:

 

I John 1:3 AMP

³What we have seen and [ourselves] heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may ^[d]realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this] fellowship that we have [which is a ^[e]distinguishing mark of Christians] is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

 

In this verse the word fellowship refers to our relationship with Father God.  When we read about fellowship I believe we draw a picture of friendly interaction and communication.  Maybe even events where we gather and have fun.  Many churches have ‘fellowship halls’ for just such occasions.

 

But the part that I really love about this word is in the definition where it says, ‘contributory help, participation’.  When we think of fellowship in this way, it takes it deeper than just friendly communication and fun times.  Lets insert this into that portion of the scripture.

 

And this contributory help and participation that we have is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. (brackets removed for ease of reading).

 

Fellowship is so much more than we have ever realized.  To provide contributory help is to invest in someone’s life.  You are not just a casual observer, but a ‘participant’ in their life.  This IS our relationship with Father God.  He contributes and participates in our lives.

 

This is also, exactly what the church in the chapter of Act was!  When they fellowshipped, they contributed to each others lives and they participated in each others lives, just as Father God contributes and participates in our lives!

 

I must say that I am part of a church that lives this type of fellowship and am so thankful that God has placed me there.  If you are a person who maybe attends church but is not actively involved in a close knit group of Christian friends or some type of small group who exhibits this type of fellowship, then let me encourage you to seek one out!

 

God never intended for any of us to do life alone.  He never intended for any of us to feel isolated from Him or other Christian believers.

 

And for those of you who maybe haven’t entered in to this type of fellowship in your group, contributing and participating into others lives, let me encourage you to stop sitting on the sidelines.  Dive on in!  It will be the most fulfilling type of life you can know!

 

Who can you reach out to?  Make a difference for someone by contributing and participating in their life.  Reach out, contribute, participate and invest in others – today.

No matter what your beliefs are, I want to thank you for visiting my Christian blog!