Consistent Fellowship

4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. 7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you. 
(Paul's Letter to Philemon)
Philemon was known as a man of fellowship.  The phrase "the sharing of your faith" could be translated "the fellowship of your faith." He was known for sharing the Gospel with others, as well as doing good things for others, which refreshed them in many ways. He was a sharing, giving kind of guy. May that be said of us: that we consistently share: our faith, our resources, our abilities, our lives, with fellow believers and those who are watching to see if our faith is real.  What Philemon is being prepared for in these words is a call to forgive, just as he has been forgiven. If we have received the grace of God in Christ, to be consistent we should also share such forgiveness.  So how will we be called on to share, to have fellowship today? Only God does know. May we be ready, may we be consistent, in every way. 

The Right Hand of Fellowship

6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles),9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. (Galatians 2)
I remember as a child occasionally hearing the phrase "the right hand of fellowship" used at church.  I wondered if it was some sort of secret handshake these people did at the front of the church.  Simply put, it is a sign of approval and acceptance of coworkers in Christ. Churches often "give" the right hand of fellowship to new members, signifying their place and part in the family of God - recognizing them as fellow members and workers, joining together to serve the Lord in His church.  The only "mystery" involved is how in the world God is able to bring all of these selfish people, with different backgrounds and prejudices together. That is answered "In Christ" and by the power of the Holy Spirit, working in us individually and binding us together.  So let's get together, hand in hand, and do what God has called us to do. 

The Fellowship of the Son

9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. (I Corinthians 1)

It is no secret that the Church at Corinth had some problems, not the least of which was the inability to get along with one another.  It's not that they did not have fellowship.  In fact - they had fellowship centered on the wrong things or people.  They loved to eat (you mean that isn't fellowship?) but really did not care who it was they were eating with.  And they loved to form around a person, but were not careful about Who that Person was.  They forgot is was all fellowship around the Son, not a table or a "flesh-and-blood) person.  They were way too much into the flesh, and not the Spirit.  How can we "play it safe"? Make sure anything we call "fellowship" really is focused on Christ - that all our eyes are on Him.  

Fellowship: Awesome or Awful!?!

41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. (Acts 2)

One of the trademarks of the first group of followers of the Resurrected Christ was their fellowship/sharing/partnership. They did life together.  There are two possibilities when you get a group of people together: one is awesome, one is awful; more often it is the latter.  When people truly gather together under the Gospel of Christ, it is great. When people vie for prominence or personal gain it is pathetic.  When we each say "look at what I can do," (can someone say "Corinthian Church", it is a sorry sight; when we say: what can God do through us together it is a heavenly vision.  What does it really mean to have fellowship? It is sharing: of vision, of trust, of time, of resources, of joys and sorrows. And no one gets greedy.  And that is an awesome thing indeed. 

Being a Pleasing Sacrifice

12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13)
Jesus, in His sacrifice, saved us, satisfying the demands of the Law, and also is using that as a foundation for sanctifying us, making us more fit for His service. So, what does that look like? A few of the results are brought together in these few verses.  We will proclaim Him, leaving the security and protection and comfort of "the city" to go out and tell others.  We will also "offer the sacrifice of praise", both inside and outside of "the city" - both the encouraging atmosphere of the fellowship of the saints, and in the hostile environs of the world around us. And we will proclaim Him through giving - looking for ways to do good to all, and especially to share what we have with fellow believers in need.  This is the life of sacrifice that pleases God - the life to which we have been called. May we not only "offer the sacrifice of praise" as we worship Him today, but also as we go out and serve Him, other believers, and a hurting, watching world this week. 

The Sacrifice that Satisfies and Sanctifies

For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
    but a body have you prepared for me;
6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings
    you have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
    as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

(Hebrews 10)

Better.  Better than better. That is the way the writer describes Jesus Christ throughout this book.  Better than angels or prophets or priests, or any other.  This goes for the sacrifice He has made as well: one time for all time for all who will trust in Him.  It is better in that it does what none other can do: It alone will satisfy the holiness of God as Judge, and in what it continues to do: change and transform believers into His priests and servants.  Better - all around better. Priceless. Perfect. Pure.  That's what we all need.  It should overwhelm us what God has done for us in Christ. Live overwhelmed today. 

Right Between the Eyes...

2 

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,

    but the Lord weighs the heart.

3 

To do righteousness and justice

    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

4 

Haughty eyes and a proud heart,

    the lamp of the wicked, are sin.

(Proverbs 21:2-4)

The core of is short passage is that proverbial truth stated more than once in Scripture: giving sacrifices (or tithes and offerings, or even time and toil) must be consistent with the heart and with our other actions of worship and service. Before and after this truth, Solomon talks about the eyes as a gateway to our motives and innermost being. God looks on the heart (remember hearing that before?), and the eyes can reveal a pride and self-reliance that undo any gift or act we may bring as a "sacrificial offering" to God.  Sometimes we think no one else knows why we give, or do the "good things" we do, but God always does. He is not conned, fooled or tricked into accepting a payoff. His truth and wisdom hits us right between the eyes, where He can look and see the real "me." True sacrifice involves wanted what He wants, pursuing a right relationship with Him and others, and doing what is right because we want to please and honer Him. May our lives be a pure sacrifice today.