world who are being persecuted, despised, and often martyred for
their faith.
The Bible commands: “Share each other’s troubles and problems,
and in this way obey the law of Christ.”^10 It is in the times of deep
crisis, grief, and doubt that we need each other most. When
circumstances crush us to the point that our faith falters, that’s
when we need believing friends the most. We need a small group
of friends to have faith in God forus and to pull us through. In a
small group, the Body of Christ is real and tangible even when
God seems distant. This is what Job desperately needed during his
suffering. He cried out, “A despairing man should have the
devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes the fear of the
Almighty.”^11
In real fellowship people experience mercy. Fellowship is a
place of grace, where mistakes aren’t rubbed in but rubbed out.
Fellowship happens when mercy wins over justice.
We all need mercy, because we all stumble and fall and require
help getting back on track. We need to offer mercy to each other
and be willing to receive it from each other. God says, “When
people sin, you should forgive and comfort them, so they won’t give up
in despair.”^12
You can’t have fellowship without forgiveness. God warns,
“Never hold grudges,”^13 because bitterness and resentment always
destroy fellowship. Because we’re imperfect,
sinful people, we inevitably hurt each other
when we’re together for a long enough time.
Sometimes we hurt each other intentionally
and sometimes unintentionally, but either
way, it takes massive amounts of mercy and grace to create and
maintain fellowship. The Bible says, “You must make allowance for
each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you.
Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”^14
God’s mercy to us is the motivation for showing mercy to
others. Remember, you will never be asked to forgive someone
The Purpose-Driven Life 142DAY EIGHTEEN:
EXPERIENCING
LIFE TOGETHER