Christ Expresses His Life Through Us

By Hazel Holland

I was thinking today of how Paul reminds us to "not forsake the assembling of yourselves together".  Of course this exhortation is usually interpreted to mean "be sure you attend church each week". But is this what Paul meant when he made this statement?  Seeing one another around a corporate church gathering once a week is hardly real fellowship like the early church experienced as they met together in each others homes.

Real fellowship is based in intimate relationships.  Real fellowship is based on regularly connecting and becoming deeply involved in other people’s lives?  If we are honest we must admit that relationships with people in a modern day church setting are limited by programs and maintaining a common vision.  This is hardly fellowship in the truest sense of the word. 

But what can happen in small home group settings is the best kind of fellowship.  What joy comes from worshiping God together and praying with one another as we allow the Spirit to minister to each of our needs.  Studying the Word together and allowing the Spirit to let it pierce our hearts with His love makes us willing to carry each others burdens to the Lord.  This is the kind of fellowship my heart continually longs for.  

As we allow the Spirit to move in our lives, the gifts of the Spirit will be manifest in and through our lives as Christ expresses His life through us.  Fellowship with one another becomes sweeter as we remember that Jesus Christ is the burden-bearer?  Since He has already done all the heavy lifting we can release our works at the foot of the cross.  Then we will be free to enter into the joy of His "good" work.  

Our job is to simply rest in His finished work, enjoy sweet fellowship with Him, and love one another as He has loved us. Our work is to enter moment by moment into the rest of His marvelous grace and allow Christ to express His life through us. ♥