Fellowship (1 John 1:3-4)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 06-17-04

 

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  Fellowship

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1John 1:3-4

 

            Message of the verse:  “3. We repeat, we really saw and heard what we are now writing to you about. We want you to be with us in this—in this fellowship with the Father, and Jesus Christ his Son.  4. We write and tell you about it, so that our joy may be complete.” (Philips)  “3 We are telling you about what we ourselves have actually seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.  4 We are writing these things so that our joy will be complete.”  (NLT)

            John seems like he cannot contain himself as he repeats some of the things he has already wrote in the first verse about actually seeing and hearing the Lord Jesus Christ when He was upon the earth, and because he has seen Jesus Christ, he wants to pass it on this good news to his readers.  John seems to be very excited about all of this.  He goes on to write about the fellowship that he has with the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and then encourages them to participate in the fellowship and to have fellowship with him also.  Jesus Christ is the reason that believers can have fellowship with each other, and if it were not for the Lord Jesus Christ then there could be no real fellowship at all.  John goes on to give a reason why he is writing to his readers, and that is so that their joy may be complete.  By telling them what he is telling them in these verses it will make him joyful.  Being joyful does not necessarily have to do with one’s circumstances. 

 

             Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I cannot help but see the excitement in John as he wrote these verses, and the reason for the excitement is the Lord Jesus Christ, and what He has provided for John and also for his readers, and that is salvation.  Not only has Jesus provided salvation for them, but He also has made it possible to have fellowship with Himself, and His Father.

 

The Word of God was very refreshing to my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  As some of my family is traveling, and also because Beth and her family are traveling too, I trust that the Lord will give them all traveling mercies, and will get them to where they are going and back safely.  I also continue to trust the Lord with the situation of our investments, and trust that He will make all things beautiful in His time.

 

Memory verses for this week:  1Cor. 13:4-5

 

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own,  is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,