Joy in Fellowship

April 10, 2022

As with Cain and Abel, who were only imitating their parents and their failure

to walk with God, there is still bitter envying and strife yet today. It is no

surprise that worldly persons, filled with their own passions and lusts, should

be splintering and dividing. But, to see the same behavior among the very elect

proves that Satan is alive and well. His intention from the first was to separate

humanity from our creator and subject us to himself. He is selfish and the

father of selfishness. His arrogance, when infused in our hearts, destroys our

fellowship with God. This then generates the hatred of Cain; we begin to

become jealous of our own family. Brothers like Able become objects of our

disgust because they love to do the will of God, to worship by faith that comes

by hearing the Word, and to plead from the accursed ground for God to forgive

those who are guilty. Brothers like Cain see that the fellowship with one

another is being destroyed, but fail to comprehend its causes. It seems that

their heart is so hardened because they no longer walk with God in the cool of

the evening or even in the early morning. When our fellowship with God is

broken, all is broken, and until that is repaired nothing can go right in the

family, the church, or the community. Every Christian can enjoy the peace that

passes understanding and the joy that Jesus offers to the degree that he or she

is willing to: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:1). By obeying

this one very clear command we are guaranteed peace and joy resulting from

love. It begins here and until Satan interrupts with his envy and jealousy. The

peace and joy from this loving commandment lasts, not only lasts but covers

over a multitude of sin as surely as Christs love and blood covers our sin. With

this in mind, surely we can forgive any perceived harm a brother might have

brought our way. It is tragic to see the replay of Cain and Abel so many years

later and to notice once again Satan’s influence. What pleasure he takes in our

foolish departure from our Lords command. When brotherly love could cure

division, we insist upon – Our way!

Dr. Kenneth E. Morrison