Day 18: Experiencing Life Together

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"Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ."  Galatians 6:12

God wants you to be shared through authentic, mutual, merciful, and sympathetic ears.  He is looking for quality and not quantity in how you share yourself.  "Real fellowship happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives." (Warren, Purpose Driven Life pg. 93)  This includes more than worshipping in a church.  It is about fellowship with unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrifical giving, and sympathetic giving.

I feel being authentic in this day in age is so hard to come by.  So many people pretending to be friends to other's when they have false intentions that are usually self-centered.  Of course, it usually works itself out to when you are in need the most, they are the one's that quickly walk away or half-ass their place in your life.  God is looking for a fellowship where you can admit who you are, what you believe, share your fears and mistakes, and be able to ask for forgiveness and prayer.  True intimacy happens in the light and one will need to become vulnerable and take risks to accept this grace.

Fellowship is never a one-way street.  It combines giving and receiving.  It is not about being responsible for everyone but to them.  To be able to encourage and walk with others' to develop mind, body, and spirit.  To be able to fill someone else's love tank and accept your's to be filled at the same time.  It is being able to feel others pain, sorrows, fears, joys, love, and desires.  It is about sacrificing your opinions or the societal norms to truely be in them and with them simultaneously.  So many of use are taught not to even mention our burdens, so we do not ask for help until it is too late.  Be grateful if you have a person who is willing to help bear your burdens.  More than likely, they are stronger than they look, humble in nature, and exude love even when all hope seems lost.

Be merciful in your fellowships as we are all human and fall-some more than others.  Speak ever so slightly not to be in denial of their faults or rub them in.  Realize that forgiveness and trust are two entirely different actions and choices.  Forgiveness is in the past and should be a realitively immediate action.  Trust is about the future and should be earned and healed over time.  We all will have someone hurt us.  When it happens, forgiveness is your choice; trust is their's.  Do not bind yourself to your past.  Forgive their wrongs and let them take the steps to prove to you that you can trust them again.  A person who can prove such an act definitely values you in their life.  They are willing to sacrifice and fight in repentance for your fellowship.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."  Galatians 6:9

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