Fellowship

This was in my inbox this morning and I liked it... so thought I would share.

GOT FELLOWSHIP?
By Rev. Dawn Scott Jones

Fellowship. What a great word. It comes from the idea of two people sitting together in a ship. By necessity, these two men or women would have to be companions, working and watching together, sharing community and conversation. Together they could enjoy the strength of relationship and experience the smooth sailing that camaraderie brings.

But what if one of the men in that close confinement was rude and arrogant? What if one of the women on that boat was a constant downer, endlessly complaining about her troubled marriage or deviant children? The ride would be on rough waters to say the least. Fellowship like that could cause you to look for the nearest Port of Call or even tempt you to jump overboard!

It's important to choose carefully who you fellowship with. "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good morals'" (1 Cor. 15:33, NASB).

But what if we plunged a little deeper into this idea and thought about it in terms of the attitudes we fellowship with? If we were to check the "passengers" that are on board in the cabin of our hearts what would we find there? Would there be the stow-a-ways of discouragement or depression? Perhaps you would find pride, bitterness, or faultfinding.

Maybe you have never thought about fellowship in this way before, but the attitudes we stow are as important as the company we keep. I am fellowshiping on a daily basis with my own thoughts and those attitudes, like friends, are affecting my behavior. If I am bound to a negative thought life, am I not fellowshiping with darkness?

"Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?" (2 Cor. 6:14).

This Scripture is clearly speaking of our associations, but it's interesting to visualize this biblical truth to include the fellowship of our own attitudes. If we are listening to the voices of anxiety, we may be fellowshiping with the darkness of fear. How could we launch out into the deep places with God if fear is rowing against us? That fellowship would keep us anchored to the shores of safety and comfort. Or how could we set sail with negativity as our navigator? We would find ourselves seeing everything through a dense fog and then be surprised when we arrive at the wrong destination.

Because I am with myself 24/7 I am feeding my own spirit all the time. Therefore it is important to know what I am fellowshiping with. If faith comes by hearing (see Rom. 10:17) then what does my heart hear me say? Does the inner fellowship of my attitudes increase my own faith or do I discourage myself and provoke my own unrest? Faith does indeed come by hearing, but so does doubt and fear. If I hear a negative report, these two shipmates are all too ready to climb on board and set sail with me.

Of course there are times when our fellowship is invaded by pirates. The hostile takeover of our serenity is often a real threat. So we must be diligent to carefully watch the compass of our thought life and not let it wander into enemy territory or places of danger. Random thoughts will try to enter your boat and ride with you, tormenting your mind and heart.

How much better it would be to voyage with the peace of Christ! To descend into the bottom of the vessel and find Jesus at rest there in spite of the storm around me. How inviting it sounds to raise the sail of hope and embark on a journey, knowing that joy and wisdom will travel with me. This is the fellowship I long for.

We cannot underestimate the power of our associations. Take inventory of your cargo and throw doubt, fear, anxiety, depression and bad attitudes overboard. Invite Jesus' thoughts and words into your fellowship.