Fellows together..

When God created Adam, he was the only human on earth. God immediately said that it was not good for man to be alone and created Eve! The first human community was born. Ever wondered why Christians gather together in church, in home groups and various other small groups to study God's word?

The word for meeting together is fellowship and it comes from the greek word koinonia which means "sharing in common". It means assimilation into a family, a people that God is separating to Himself, His family. We were created for community - to be in communion with our Creator and to be in communion with one another. If we claim to have fellowship with God, we need to have fellowhip with one another. We are not meant to be Christians in isolation but asked to be in community with real authentic relationship with one another.
1 John 1:6-7
If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by 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, purifies us from all sin.

Why is fellowship so critical? The first one is for each of our personal growth. When we meet together in fellowship, we encourage one another and in the process we grow in Christ.
Romans 1:11-12
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.

Hebrews 10: 24 - 25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

The second reason for fellowship is so that the world knows about us. It is only when we meet together that we are able to show our love for one another. Love cannot be shown in isolation! It is by our unconditional love for one another that the world can come to know of the unconditional love of the Father for them!
John 17:22-23
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Another reason is that we really belong to each other as members of One body, the body of Christ. Being in community together reflects our unity and oneness in Christ and we are able to minister to one another using our giftings.

Romans 12: 4 - 8

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a]faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

If you are involved in a fellowship in a church or a small group, you are embracing the key value of God - to be in community! Continue to show your commitment for the people you are in fellowship with that is based on God's unconditional love and share the love of God! When you are in fellowship, you are reflecting God's heart!!