Fellowship brings light by Deon Crafford
Hebrews 10:19-25 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Most of us who have parented since the invention of the Lego blocks, will have experienced the anguish of stepping barefoot onto a stray block in the dark of the night. If you have not experienced this then at least you would have hit a toe, a knee, a hip or a head against something in your house concealed by the dark. This would be even more true in friends’ house or rented holiday accommodation. Suffice to say that darkness converts user friendly things into dangerous things. So it is with the way we lead our lives – even in the areas that we know, we can bump into things, more so in the areas that we’re unfamiliar with. What causes darkness in these areas? Mostly our insistence on going it alone, relying predominantly on our own intellect, analysis and evaluation. We would submit that we’re strong in the faith and therefor confident that we won’t get smacked in the knee or head by something concealed in darkness. If you’re anything like me, your pride may not grant you the opportunity to admit that fellowship or help would be good for you. It’s just so stupid!
Fellowship brings light and illuminates those blind or dark spots that you fail to see or consider in your decisions and actions. Fellowship of the believers is a gift from God to protect us from failing in our own self-reliance. Fellowship with non-believers is God’s mandate to us through which He is made known. Fellowship is light and the call to be light is in each one of us. If we shun this, we’re much more likely to experience harm and “promote” harm. Why then do it? Why then choose the deceptive comfort of “not getting involved” if the outcome most likely is harm to self or others? It’s just so stupid!
Reaching out to others may be more difficult for those that are heavily introverted, but it does not relieve one of the obviously wise decision to do it anyway. For people like me, it is quite freeing to arrive at a place where I realise I am not so clever or visionary, and I need to hear others, even on my own life. We have God to thank that we have one another. We will do well to renew our fellowships and gain so much in light and wisdom. It’s just so wise!
Love to all
DC