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John Fawcett was the pastor of a small church. He received an invitation to pastor a much larger one. As he and his wife packed their bags to leave for the new church, members of his small congregation came by to bid them farewell. The love and fellowship of those few members touched the couple so much that they decided to stay. He then wrote the hymn “Blest be the Tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.” Paul’s memory of the sweet fellowship he once enjoyed with the Philippian believers moved him to write them a letter. In it, he expresses his deep love for the people. He says every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, you began a good work in you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. For this will bring much glory and praise to God.” Fellowship means we love and show concern for others even as we do for ourselves.
