I would like to share nine characteristics of having Biblical fellowship from The Purpose Driven Life:
* Share our true feelings – authenticity *Admit our weaknesses – humility
*Encourage each other – mutuality *Respect our differences – courtesy
*Support each other – sympathy *No gossip – confidentiality
*Forgive each other – mercy *Make fellowship a priority – frequency
*Speak the truth in love – honesty
These nine characteristics are essential not only in our personal lives but in dealing with each other in fellowships.
It is important to ‘dwell together in unity.’ While I strive to have all these characteristics in my life and know the importance of each one; I have always had great difficulty of having Christian fellowship. I feel so inadequate, and some have said it was because of very low self esteem. Even when I directed the Women’s Conference for our church and planned all the activities I could never move around greeting each other or become involved in their groups of fellowship.
Interesting enough, I have never had any problem teaching but any time I am in a group event I ”want to be an invisible person.” This is true of of every area of my life. I have problems in family gatherings (except on a one-to-one basis) and work socials. When I read this chapter and I in view of all the scriptures that I read in Chapter 19 of this book, I need definite help in this area.
