The Fellowship of the King

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matthew 18:20).

In the beginning, the Lord God breathed upon a young world those words befitting the creation of Adam, the first man: “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). As Christians, so must we eschew isolation and seek rather to gather regularly as the body of Christ. It is not good to be alone; we must gather. Indeed, how can we not? We are the very body of Christ. Can the hand move about without the foot, or the eye guide itself through the darkness apart from its position in the head? I should think not.

In the book of Hebrews, the divinely inspired author gives this command: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25). In order to encourage other believers—to stir up one another to love and good works—we must first be in the habit of rubbing shoulders with other believers: a command that displayed its frightful importance when such opportunities to gather were threatened and even prohibited during the pandemic years. I say frightful because we are doubtless all aware of many who, upon being barred from gathering with their church in 2020, are yet to return to the Lord’s house for worship to this very day.

Now, while I believe the principle command in this verse refers to corporate worship as the body of Christ on the Lord’s day, we would be shortsighted to say that the command ends there. Just as we must nourish ourselves with God’s word each day, and be meditating on what we’ve read throughout the day, so too must we make every effort throughout the week to fellowship with each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. For it is throughout the week, and not just on Sunday,—as we do battle in our little corner of the world with the forces of cosmic darkness around us and dethrone every lofty argument that opposes the Lordship of Christ—that we need one another most.

And while meeting together as believers extends beyond worshipping on a Sunday morning, it should never extend beyond worship. Indeed, just as all of life is worship—“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31)—so must our fellowship as believers be a sweet smelling aroma of Christ’s excellence to the watching world, no matter what it is we find ourselves doing. Whether we are meeting a friend for coffee, playing a round of golf, or laboring alongside a brother or sister in the workplace, let us endeavor to do it well and do it for Him.

However, all that being said, one cannot deny there is a particular glory present when believers gather under the study of God’s word. I was reminded of this reality only this past week when our Bible study reconvened for the first time since Spring. As the shadows began to grow long out of doors, the golden light making its pilgrimage westward, a different sort of light and warmth began at the same time to settle in mine and Elaina’s little living room as our group took their seats.

As our soft song of praise lifted up to the Lord in worship, followed by our prayers and humble discussion over His word, there was a joy among us that no words could describe. Not a giddy, shallow, fleeting joy, mind you; but a deep, abiding, and otherworldly joy. The kind of joy that goes about silently, unsaid, for fear of disturbing the peaceful waters it has produced; as though calling attention to it will, in some way, diminish it. A caliber of joy not unlike the feeling one has while sharing a meal with loved ones, or waking up on the first fresh morning of a holiday, only richer, deeper, and more enduring—as though in that hour the noise of the world fades and you find yourself doing that which is not only most important, but most dear to you. A joy owing to the fact that there no longer lingers a crossroads between what is best for you and best to you; no division over that which is most important and that which you love most. This is made all the sweeter by the holy, joyful camaraderie of souls all about you, the fellowship of the King, sharing in that very moment fellowship with the King Himself, aching upwards, outwards, and onwards towards that “Day drawing near” wherein our joy will be full, uninterrupted, and ever increasing in the sight of our Lord.

It is in these moments of fellowship with other believers that the light of eternity breaks through the flimsy fetters of time and space, pointing our hearts not towards a world that should be, but towards that world which always has been and forever will be, prepared by Christ Himself for those chosen in Him before the foundations of the world.

Whether it be at a Bible study or while out on a walk with a close friend reflecting on some great truth, is there not in these moments a strong sense in which one can almost feel the warmth of the Lord’s presence among them—a burning of the heart, so to speak? A fierce and gentle Presence among the many gathered; or more accurately, a strong Presence gathering together the many. We should hardly be surprised—we are the fellowship of the King, after all, and it should be no small wonder that He walks among us: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matthew 18:20). And yet, is it not at the same time the greatest wonder in all the world that the living God should desire fellowship with us?

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Photo by Brian Beckwith, Unsplash