Fellowship with other believers is a rich privilege and an important responsibility. Without it, our life would no doubt be very lonely and oppressive. Our fall into sin has cut us off from fellowship with God and godly fellowship with others; before God’s work of grace in our hearts, we instead have “fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph. 5:11). But if in sovereign mercy God has engrafted you into His Son, you have begun to enjoy fellowship with Him and, through Him, with others.

The Bible frequently encourages and directs believers to fellowship. From this we can learn that God highly prizes the exercise of this grace for the comfort and growth of faith. Reflect on the following practical ways in which the Bible instructs believers to enjoy fellowship with each other:

1. By assembling with one another. This is the chief way Christians can enjoy fellowship. It’s humbling to think that God has to warn us not to forsake such assemblies (Heb. 10:25). Sometimes Christians are providentially hindered from participating in corporate worship. If this continues for a long time, it can be a great burden. Think of how melancholy filled David’s heart when he was remembering the day when he could go to the house of the Lord (Ps. 42:4). Shouldn’t we especially be mindful of those who are unable to gather with us in worship?
    
2. By cultivating and displaying a gracious spirit towards each other. We cannot properly fellowship with each other when we are proud and self-centered. The Lord purposively instructs us to show humility, gentleness, and patience towards each other (Eph. 4:1-3; 5:21). This often goes against our nature, but a gracious spirit is both conducive to fellowship and enriching to our souls.
    
3. By holy conversation with each other. Christians from the past seem to have been better at this than we in our busy and digitally oriented society. Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress shows many instances in which Christian was helped by spiritual conversations with fellow-travellers to the Celestial City. God promises rich blessings upon those who cultivate such spiritually minded fellowship (Mal. 3:16-17).
    
4. By singing with each other. Singing can greatly aid the fellowship of kindred minds (Col. 3:16). This happens in corporate worship, family worship, or just informal gatherings.
    
5. By avoiding and exposing fellowship of unrighteousness. Fellowship with ungodly people is a sure way to undermine fellowship between believers. Believers cannot afford to change like chameleons depending on whose company they are in. The Bible warns believers not to fellowship with the ungodly, but to expose unrighteousness for what it is (Ps. 1:1; Eph. 5:11; 2 Cor. 6:1-17).
    
6. By celebrating the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper serves a number of purposes. An important one is that believers would know themselves united in brotherly love through the Spirit (1 Cor. 10:17).
    
7. By encouraging and helping each another. We should see times of difficulty as special calls to fellowship with each other. Scripture tells us that if one member of the body of Christ suffers, everyone else should feel it and seek to help as able (1 Cor. 12:26-27; Rom. 12:15). Sometimes this will mean a word of encouragement or sympathy. Other times, contributing tangible help and resources is a beautiful expression of fellowship (2 Cor. 9:12-14).
    
8. By praying for each other. Can people still fellowship with each other when they are not physically together? On his many journeys and during imprisonment, Paul still enjoyed fellowship through prayer and thanksgiving for others (2 Cor. 1:11; Eph 6:18). In a similar vein, Christians are called to cultivate fellowship with those who are persecuted by remembering them in prayer (Heb. 13:3).

Are you united to Christ? You cannot enjoy true fellowship with any of Christ’s people without being united to Christ. We need the new birth from above to make us children of God, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. Don’t rest until you are Christ’s.

If you are a child of God but are lax in your fellowship with other believers, examine what the cause might be. Are you humble, patient, and longing to serve others? Do you cultivate spiritual friendships? Do you use the means of grace prayerfully with a desire to be used for the good of others? In these times when the love of many is waxing cold, may God grow believers to exercise and enjoy deeper fellowship with Him and with each other.