Love Grows With Fellowship

Jesus replied, If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him (John 14:23 NIV).

I want you to understand the language of the Spirit in our opening verse. Why would Jesus say, "If a man loves me, my Father will love him?" Didn’t the Father already love everybody? The Bible says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Jesus came because
the Father already loved everybody. So, what other love is He referring to here? He’s dealing with fellowship; love grows with fellowship.

When you recognize and reciprocate love, you get more love. As you reciprocate the Father’s love, He further demonstrates His love for you in a peculiar way; He’ll show the world that He loves you. Having believed in the Lord Jesus, one of the most beautiful things you should crave and practise is rich fellowship with Him. It should be your lifestyle, because there’s no love without fellowship.

Fellowship means oneness of spirit; a sharing or communing together. 1 Corinthians 1:9 says, "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 John 1:3 says, "… truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." We’ve been called into fellowship with the Lord, and there can be no fellowship without communication. Commune with Him often, and seek His thoughts, opinions, counsel and guidance in all your endeavours. This is something you do consciously in response to His love.

Your fellowship with the Lord is unique to you. He doesn’t have, has never had, and will never have a copy of you; so, He cherishes your fellowship and love. As you fellowship with Him through the Word and the Holy Spirit, you get to know Him more, and your life becomes the expression of His love.

Prayer
Dear Father, I thank you for counting me worthy to be called into fellowship with your Son Jesus Christ. Through fellowship with the Spirit and the Word, I’m transformed into the glorious image of Christ, where my life is the absolute expression of your righteousness, love and grace, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study:
2 Corinthians 13:14;
1 John 1:3

Culled from Rhapsody of Reality