Friend or Fellow?

The word fellow has multiple definitions and is used differently in multiple ways: someone can be a fellow by gender, as a man or boy, as well as a fellow in reference to a co-professional. Let’s just say, that its definition requires context. I want to use the word as it relates to friendship: to describe someone in the same ‘boat’ or life-stage as yourself...a friend that is more than a friend, but someone who is going through what you are going through – and you totally ‘get’ each other.

When we find a friend like this, they become a ‘fellow’, and the time you spend together, becomes fellowship. We use this term often in church circles, and usually to reference a separation from other types of hanging out together. We use it because it works, and it fits. There is a word in the bible for this fellowship: koinonia. Literally translated, it means partnership, for example as in participation – in communion. In other words: In it together. This really fits when we talk about church as the Body of Christ and the struggles we face following Christ on a daily basis.

Being in something together works; it is a relief to know we are not alone, right? It helps us along, keeps us going, and is like a training partner for life – how awesome! When it comes to faith, it is the greatest tool we have, outside of God’s Word, to keep us walking a walk of faith. Why is this? Because it is hard to drift down the wrong road with two sets of eyes on where you are going.

So how does this happen? How do we move from hanging out to having fellowship? It is not a location or proximity thing alone that makes it happen, it doesn’t just happen when two or more same-minded folks get together. There is no formula required outside of this:

“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

Fellowship happens when we walk in the light, meaning the light of Christ. Together, “In Him”, moving in the same direction, and it starts with the light you walk in. Christian fellowship, like I said, is not a proximity thing – Christians getting together in a place, it’s a PERSON thing, found in the person of Christ.

When Christ becomes the light we use to move, then when we get together, the light doesn’t change, it just gets brighter. Not just better together, but brighter…

What is your fellow light source?

…just prayin’

in His Grip,

Pastor Pat