I hope all of you have been making strides falling into fellowship with your sisters in Christ. It’s been exciting to hear from those of you who are earnestly working towards fitting quality time into your schedule. If you haven’t made special time to connect with a woman in your life, as long as the Lord gives us tomorrow, there’s time.
Today, I’m super thankful for real friends. The offline conversations, the non-digitized smiles, and unfiltered love makes a huge difference in my life. I refuse to miss the real stuff chasing what’s online. The internet is a place, true friendship is embedded in our lives.
Our brother Paul who was imprisoned and still found ways to encourage fellow believers in Christ. This baffles me for many reasons. Mainly, I know I’m would not be able to do it! I’m picturing myself in a dirty jail cell and I can already see massive amounts of self-loathing happening. So, God knew to raise up a Paul because his faith exceeded his circumstances…
I’m still growing to get there. Are you?
What Paul says to the church in Philippi as he awaits sentencing from his jail cell, helps me understand the importance and power of fellowship.
“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.”
Philippians 1:3-11
To me, this is one of the sweetest passages in the Bible! The church in Philippi is a congregation Paul planted, nurtured, and taught. These are people he knows well. Despite what Paul is going through, he recognizes his friends. In chains, Paul thanks God for them and writes them this letter of encouragement. I know there is a lot happening in the world right now. I know there is a lot happening in your life right now. But, I pray that we will understand, by falling into fellowship, just how important we are to each other. We must stay connected to our closest friends and family members. Our attention is divided by work, school, workout plans, new business ventures, relationships, and our homes. Let’s be intentional about multiplying love and grace by fellowshipping the women God has given to us. Make time for the real ones in your life. Fall into fellowship.
#tobepraised