This Side of Heaven

 Y'all, of course the sweetest fellowship we have is with Jesus, but God also knew in our humanness we'd need some encouragement that has flesh on it.

...that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3 

Recently I was speaking with a woman who was visiting our church. I had a point I wanted to make, but in this climate I didn't want to be offensive, so I  began by saying, "Are you really into Jesus?"  From our initial conversation I was 80% certain she was.

"There is no joy like the joy of knowing one another in the Lord Jesus Christ....Fellowship means, “to hold things in common”; those of us who have experienced the saving grace of God have much in common. We have become partakers of the divine nature; not only do we have fellowship with God, but we must also have fellowship with one another. We have the same new nature, re-born from the same womb of grace." Adrian Rogers

Evaluate your five closest relationships this side of Heaven.  Are these people really into Jesus?  Do their decisions reflect those of someone who has sought the Lord?

Do they encourage you in accordance with how God's Word says to live?

Now flip the coin, can they say the same thing of you?

The Song

“The Goodness of God” CeCe Winans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sE5kEnitqE

and this version

“Goodness of God” The Crosby Family

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-qMv1roB7E