Let's Party!

Matt 18:20 For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them.

I had the great pleasure of joining a group of friends last night for an early Christmas party. Best of all, Jesus came too. It was planned as a group of friends having a simple Christmas decoration/ornament exchange with the added pleasure of seeing someone’s new house! The house was beautiful but even better was the Spirit of peace that rested there. We caught up on the events of each other’s lives and in our conversation we encouraged one another, celebrated a few victories and prayed about some trials. I thought about the scripture in Ecclesiastes that tells us two are better than one and if one falls his friend can help him up.

I especially appreciate my friend who took the time and trouble to host the event – it is so easy to become too busy to stop and join with like minded friends to bask in friendship and fellowship of the Spirit. In Phil 2:1-3 Paul exhorts the believers to respond to one another in a certain way :

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

I think Paul would have looked at our time of fellowship last night and proclaimed that his joy was complete! I know mine was.

Maybe it sounds trite, but I encourage you all to find time for true fellowship in the love and joy of Christ during this busy season; as Paul said in Hebrews 10:25… don’t neglect meeting together…but encourage one another. When we join together (formally or informally) and invite Jesus to join with us, we do end up encouraging each other. We have a twofold benefit: being encouraged and getting to encourage someone else. Hey, what is a birthday without a party? Happy Birthday Jesus, and thanks for the a reason to party with you and your friends!