The Fruit of Fellowship
One of the incredible realities of Christianity is our fellowship with Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:9 stuns the reader when Paul writes, “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” We not only have the privilege of being in fellowship with Christ; moreover, we are called to it. It is part of the purpose of our life.
When Jesus writes to the Church of Laodicea in Revelation 3, He extends a unique fellowship by saying, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). Have you ever considered for Christ to dine with us or eat with us, what this type of fellowship looks like? In ancient times, eating a meal together was a close and personal experience. By eating the same food, it united two friends together, because the food became part of both of you.
John Owen, who was a Puritan pastor in the late 1600’s, helps us understand what Christ partakes of when He dines with us. Owen suggests it is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If your lifestyle is not allowing the Holy Spirit to cultivate these fruits, then what does Christ have to partake of in His fellowship with you? As you become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit and He produces more fruit in your life, then the richer the fellowship will be between you and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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