Seeing each other as eternal beings changes our perspective. All of a sudden, every word and every deed makes a difference!

24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother [it is your Christian brother and sister].

I have always wondered what is so special about meeting with other Christians. I was helping my son-in-law put up a metal building yesterday when he made the comment that there is probably a spiritual lesson in the way that welding binds two pieces of metal together. The flux on the outside of the stick of metal gets so hot that it melts the surfaces of both pieces. They meld together so that they are one piece of metal from then on. It got me to thinking about it, and I see a parallel between the two pieces of welded metal and the bonding of Christians by the Holy Spirit:

1. The baptism of fire that we receive upon salvation is the Holy Spirit, and He continues to work in our lives throughout our lives.
2. Our worship joins our hearts in one accord as we worship God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
3. The fellowship we share comes from the confession, repentance, accountability, and the binding of our hearts together in sorrow, tribulation, and grief.
4. The fire of the Holy Spirit is what causes the fusion of Christians, the welding of their hearts and lives together.

There is joy to be found in fellowship, the joy of the Father in meeting with us, the joy of the Savior as He leads us, and the joy of the Holy Spirit as He lives with us. Here are three verses that tell us about this joy:

²⁶ so that your rejoicing for me may overflow in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again. Philippians 1:26 AMP

⁸ Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not even see Him now, you believe and trust in Him and you greatly rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy, 1 Peter 1:8

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Whether we are meeting one-on-one, in a small group, in a Bible study, as a youth group, or in church, we are meeting with the Body of Christ, His Bride, His collective temple.

Whether we are meeting for coffee and conversation, prayer, Bible study, or a service, we are meeting with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and therefore share this overflowing joy.

Whether we are meeting at a restaurant, a ball field, someone’s home, or at the church, Jesus is with us in Spirit binding our hearts together with cords that cannot be broken.

Whether we are meeting for a five-minute quick-start, a thirty minute discussion, an hour-long service, a weekend retreat, or a week-long revival, we are being welded together by the fire of the Holy Spirit as He forms us into one building and temple for our Lord.

Let’s make the most of these opportunities.

Abba, thank You for Your presence and participation when Your children get together. May we always honor You in what we say and do, remembering and acknowledging Your ever-presence in our lives, our conversation, and even our thoughts. You prayed that we may be one as You, Your Father, and the Holy Spirit are one (John 17:22-23). May it be so every time we meet! Amen.