Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

It is easy to rejoice. Many of us came to the Lord to get away from pain and here we are being asked to feel the pain of others. Fellowship means bonding, being part of other people’s lives and if you cannot feel for yourself what they are going thru, where is the bond?

We are not meant to go thru this life alone. Christ knows that and His call for us is a loving relationship, not just with Him but with each other. Some of us are a burden, some of us are carriers. One loves to let everyone know how much pain they are in while the others suffer silently.

Both extremes need fellowship. That means being honest about your condition and not making it more than is real. It is hard on everyone when you try and console one in pain and they only want attention and no one can lift them out of the dump. Job’s woes come to mind. Maybe his friend’s help wasn’t the best but they were there. They didn’t leave him alone.

Likewise no one can help if you suffer in silence. Fellowship means being connected and if one suffers, at least one other must feel your pain. Have you developed closeness to anyone? Is there at least one you can trust? If not, then you are not creating those bonds which the Lord urges us to make.

Fellowship is more than just singing together and listening to a sermon. You need to let people into your life and you into their lives.

Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Ephesians 4:12-13 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

1 Timothy 3:10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.

Blameless? I thought we were all sinners saved by grace? We are and this blameless is not about sin. It is about having a proper understanding of the Word of God and the role the Word plays out in our lives.

How do you know if your personal theology is sound or not? It will never be tested if all you do in Sunday school is take notes and keep to yourself. A testing of your understanding of the Word and how it works out in your life cannot be done in silence.

Taking a test and getting a grade only proves you can pass a written test. How do you respond in the world when tested by temptation or opposition? Are you easily swayed by the convincing words of people of high intellect and no moral character? Is pure logic your master? Do you absolutely have to understand with a high degree of confidence before you are willing to do what is right?

Being tested is both understanding and action. If your actions belie your faith, what good does your faith do anyone? There are reasons the ungodly call us hypocrites. The first reason is because they have no idea what it means to be a Christian. The second reason is because our actions do not match our words.

There is a sound reason why the bible says not to swear an oath. God and the ungodly will both hold you to it.

Like it or not, you will be tested.