Satan always hates Christian fellowship.
With these words of the great C.H. Spurgeon, he continues:
It is his policy to keep Christians apart. Anything which can divide saints from one another he delights in. He attaches far more importance to godly intercourse than we do. Since union is strength, he does his best to promote separation.
Spurgeon’s words speak to the spiritual problems within the church, the Household of God. But these words also speak to our individual households.
It’s safe to say that Satan always hates Christian fellowship in our families.
So, what is family fellowship to be like in our Christian homes?
The Apostle John states:
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:6-7; ESV).
THE KEY O
F CHRISTIAN FAMILY FELLOWSHIP
The key of Christian family fellowship is not that children are born into the home or that they have been legally adopted.
[tweet_dis]The key of Christian family fellowship is walking in the Light (1 John 1:5).[/tweet_dis]
As a family, we may do a lot of fun and different things together like board games and card games. Going to a state park and riding bikes is another favorite. But none of these things is the key to Christian fellowship.
[tweet_dis]Christian family fellowship is walking with Christ.[/tweet_dis]
HOW TO ACHIEVE FAMILY FELLOWSHIP IN THE HOME
How is it that we can have fellowship, walking with Jesus Christ?
We have it through God’s mercy to us. He comes to us and in Him we are baptized (Matthew 28:19). Through His Word, He teaches us. He shepherds us. By faith, we receive His gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9).
In our salvation through faith we experience over and over the blood of Jesus cleansing us from all sin.
A wise man many years ago said this about the Christian life. The Christian life is about confession and repentance.
Now, to be honest, this doesn’t sound very fun. In my sinful flesh, I’d rather have an ice cream cone and watch a movie.
But Christian fellowship without turning from sin and turning to Christ is going to lead to spiritual and mental barriers.
Like Spurgeon said, Satan will love to create separation in your family.
And what does division lead to? Strife, a place for Satan to create deformation.
Theologian Charles Hodge forewarns his readers about neglecting to make his home a Bethel, a house of God: A man’s responsibility to his children, as well as to God, binds him to make his house a Bethel; if not a Bethel, it will be a dwelling place of evil spirits [Charles Hodge, vol. 3, Systematic Theology, 706].
Proverbs 17:1 states: Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife (ESV).
Sin always brings this strife if we don’t deal with it—in the best of families. We can put on a smiley face and say everything is just fine.
But we know the truth. We know the broken relationships. We know all is not well and that our hearts are weeping.
Even a banana split with three scoops won’t make our family fellowship very enjoyable if we are bickering, gossiping, and so on.
On the other hand, enjoying the Christian life is always better when we are in right relationship with God and man. And it’s better because we are doing what God has commanded of us: to love God and our neighbors (Matthew 22:37-40).
“Our love to God is measured by our everyday fellowship with others and the love it displays.”
Andrew Murray
A PRACTICAL WAY FOR CHRISTIAN FAMILY FELLOWSHIP
So, how is your family fellowship? Are you walking in the Light? Or, do you feel like you are walking in darkness…not dealing with your own sin and the sins of your family?
To cultivate this Christian fellowship with a life of confession and repentance, let’s press forward and take our families to the next level.
And what a great way to take our families to the next level as we practice daily family worship: reading the Word, praying often and singing to the Lord.
This is experiencing true life and fellowship in the Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
If we are doing what Satan hates, there is a good reason that we are on the right path. Better yet, as we are doing what God requires, we have good reason to enjoy family fellowship with one another as we are in fellowship with Him.
Let’s start a conversation…
What is one challenge in your family that can cause division?
What is one Bible verse that is helpful in resolving tension within the family?
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