Fellowship Around the World
I received an email recently from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Chema and Vanessa were answering an email I sent them a few weeks ago. It’s been almost 18 months since we first met these good Christians. We love them and we miss them. Our fellowship in Christ extends across 5,583 miles and a very long airplane ride.
1 Peter 5.8-9 is a powerful exhortation to Christians everywhere: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith…”
But we often stop reading there, and v9-11 is important: “… because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
What is the basis for our fellowship around the world? 1) We serve the same immortal God, the Father, the Son and the Spirit; 2) We fight the same immortal enemy, Satan, the father of lies; 3) We face similar daily struggles in this life – physical, financial, emotional challenges; 4) We face similar suffering because of our common faith; 5) We have God’s Word, translated in our respective languages for our direction and our encouragement; 6) We face the same daily challenge to seek and save the lost; and 7) We have the same eternal aspiration, to spend eternity in heaven with our God and all His saints.
How can we establish, maintain and grow Christian fellowship around the world? 1) Look for opportunities to establish new relationships in Christ outside our country, outside our comfort zone. Northside offers several opportunities where we can pursue personal relationships with fellow Christians (Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, the Philippines); 2) Establish and maintain communication and personal connection with Christ-followers around the world. Technology allows timely communication with these believers. How could we bless each other with ongoing fellowship and encouragement? 3) When we share the highs and lows of our daily walks, then we have terrific opportunities to pray for specific blessings that our Christian brothers and sisters desperately need.
God’s promise in 1 Peter 5.11 applies to Northside, and to our brothers and sisters in Argentina and Mexico and Ecuador. Let’s extend our fellowship to these Christians.