It’s action that tells you who a man is. We’ll see what kind of tracks he makes.”
–Louis L’Amour (Utah Blaine)
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”
–Romans 12:15 (NASB)
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According to studies, the number one reason most people go to church is for fellowship. Not really a striking comment, for we see it all the time. There are constant events and meetings in the church. Special groups meet to eat and have fellowship. Why before and after church the foyer of the church is filled with people talking, don’t know if they have much to say, but they are wanting to say something to someone else. And we also have our beloved phones–people continually look at them, text, they just have to hear from someone or tell something to someone.
I would say fellowship is an important practice that is essential but not necessarily the most important. I might discuss that on a later date, but I want to focus on fellowship. Being a disciple implies that we have fellowship with the Lord. One cannot be a disciple without being with the Master.
We need fellowship with other disciples. But, have you ever thought about fellowship with the disciples of the past? We need to master the masters, they have so much to tell us. You may want to study the life of an individual in the Bible. What does this person have to say to you? However, there are many other disciples. Dallas Willard states,
“Fellowship with other disciples, living and dead, is another practice essential to the ‘Christ focus.’ Some with whom we must have fellowship have been long dead, but they live on and are available to us through writings. Of course, many of these are in the Bible. Others are nearer to us in time, and some are our contemporaries. We need to devote much time to knowing them well. We must above all master the masters. Spiritual reading is one of the major sources of light and strength for the disciple of Jesus. But, as valuable as it is, it cannot take the place of fellowship with other disciples living and walking beside us.”
When was the last time you read “Pilgrim’s Progress”? Or maybe you have never read it! Make it a practice this year to glean something from those disciples who have gone on before. Read something from Fenelon, Lewis, or Pink, to name only three. Let them speak to your life. A different time perhaps, but truth never changes and we can always learn from the character of others.