Ephesians 2:8-9 English Standard Version
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
I received this in reply to a recent post from a dear brother in the Lord. It is not correction, it is encouragement.
I was encouraged by a recent sermon and heard “What have you done for me lately?” I thought the message was about those struggling to see God at work in their own life. As it turns out I was wrong, the message was for me.
The answer to struggling is fellowship.
He who is in me is in you. Anyone can be used by God to deliver a message that makes a difference in the life of a brother or sister in the Lord. We are not alone and as such need fellowship in order to receive just as much, if not more so, than to give.
The central command for a disciple is to love one another. The best way to love one another is performed through fellowship. God at work is best seen in fellowship. If we have not seen God blessing us in our lives, then perhaps it is because we have neglected fellowship.
- Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
- Hebrews 2:3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,
- Hebrews 10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
- Hebrews 13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
- Hebrews 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
If we are to think that Hebrews was written to Christian Jews we are overlooking that fellowship and encouragement is extended to all God’s children no matter what they call themselves.
Allow me to remind you that the only child of God that got it right every time was Jesus Christ.
The rest of us need one another.