There’s nothing like a hot cup of coffee with a friend and a Bible. I can’t think of too many things I enjoy more. Maybe some dessert to go with it, but really, that’s about all I need to make me deliriously content. I’m not sure what it is about the Bible that I love so much. Maybe this:
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14, NIV).
Or this:
“For the word of God is living and active…” (Hebrews 4:12, NIV).
You see, every time we open the Word to read it, pray it, study it, or teach it, we are interacting with the Lord of all creation. Jesus is the Word made flesh. The Word is alive and He speaks to us! How awesome is that! Second Timothy 3:16 tells us that all of Scripture is breathed by God and is useful to teach us, correct us, rebuke us, and train us in godliness. Sometimes I read the Word and feel encouraged; sometimes I read and feel rebuked. But every time I read, I feel God.
Couple that with a like-minded sister, and we are talking about fellowship with God and with one another. Fellowship is so vital to our lives. And it comes in many forms. One of my favorite people to talk with about the Word is my mom. We sat around Sunday (yes, with coffee and dessert) and discussed a Bible study we are doing on David. We talked about deep things revealed to us in the Spirit as we discussed God’s Word. I believe these times together are vital to our spiritual growth. But not only are we growing spiritually, we are growing in our relationship with one another.
And it occurred to me that maybe that’s what fellowship is all about. We throw that word around so much: “We are having a fellowship dinner at church in the fellowship hall.” I think we sometimes forget what it really means.
“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us” (1 John 1:3, NIV).
The Greek word for fellowship, “koinonia,” refers to our union with Jesus and with one another. The early church experienced this, recorded in Acts 2:42-47, as they broke bread together and studied the Word. Isn’t that what two people drinking coffee and talking about the Word are experiencing? We are proclaiming to each other what we have seen and heard in our relationship with Jesus.
If this definition of fellowship is true, then I really only have a few friends that I fellowship with. Oh, I may eat and drink and laugh and talk with lots of people, but real connection comes when those conversations becomes spiritual and we really begin to share out of hearts and lives. I don’t know about you, but I need more of that in my life. Life is so busy and full of struggles and difficulties. If we don’t intentionally plan for these times of true fellowship, we will miss out.
Yes, we do have good fellowship at church, and for that, I am thankful. But some of the best times of fellowship for me have been when some of those ladies came and sat around my living room with their Bibles in their laps and we just shared. Or days that my best friend and I sat have sat beside a lake or at Starbucks and talked about the Lord. Women need spiritual connections with other women.
When we have a friend that we can share Jesus with, we have experienced true fellowship, and yes, that brings contentment. In a world of chaos, confusion, and pain, I sure am glad that God gives me moments with Him that I can share out loud with a friend. And coffee. And sometimes dessert. He will do the same for you.