Finding authentic fellowship.

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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. --Hebrews 10:24-25 One of the first and foremost acts of obedience that you and I should perform as Christ-followers is to become a part of a local church body.     In today’s verse, the writer of Hebrews (which is most likely the apostle Paul) said to “not neglect to meet together.” That’s because it’s within the body of believers that we encourage each other in the faith and grow spiritually. Fellowship in the Lord strengthens and refreshes us. This is incredibly important. Short of salvation, there's nothing as important to the people of God as authentic fellowship. As believers, we need to pray together, learn together, serve together, give together, grow together, cry together, repent together, worship together, and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ together! This is the kind of fellowship we ought to be a part of every time we gather as the body of Christ. Is your church a church that knows how to fellowship? Are you participating? I hope you are!  Real fellowship is so much more than just grabbing a quick coffee and a cookie in the foyer of the church between services. Come partake in the fellowship of God’s church! FELLOWSHIP IN THE LORD STRENGTHENS AND REFRESHES US.

A God Who Provides

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?”
Matthew 6:25–27

David Brainerd, the great pioneer missionary to the American Indians, traveled across the growing American colonies to take the gospel to places where it had never been heard. He suffered greatly from tuberculosis, which would lead to his death at just twenty-nine years of age. Yet despite his physical struggles, his faith was strong. In his journal he recorded being forced to take shelter in a hollow log as a severe storm raged. Unsure what he would eat as his stay lengthened, he prayed. In a few minutes a squirrel came and left a few nuts in the tree where Brainerd was staying. This happened for three days in a row until the storm finally passed and it was safe to travel again.
God is able to meet our needs even when it seems humanly impossible. But He usually works in response to our faith. When Jesus returned to Nazareth after doing miracles across the land of Israel, the people who had watched Him grow up did not see the same level of power displayed. The problem was not a lack of power on Jesus’ part, but a lack of faith in their hearts. “And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58). Never lose heart because your circumstances seem to be impossible. God delights in demonstrating His power on behalf of those who trust in Him.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Those who fully rely on God will never lack His provision for their needs.