Romans 7:18. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
Our fellowship with Christ is broken when we ignore or neglect the Word of God. It happens when we hear the Word but do not put it into practice. We deceive ourselves if we only listen to the Word but do not obey it.
As a result, we blindly follow the desires of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). The lust of the flesh means craving worldly pleasures without considering God’s purpose. We cannot see the spiritual blessings already given to us in Christ. The lust of the eyes refers to selfish ambitions, material greed, and the desire for more status or recognition. The pride of life is self-glorification, putting ourselves at the center of everything instead of glorifying God. None of these comes from God. They come from the world, and they lead us away from Him.
Even when fellowship is broken, our identity in Christ does not change. We are still saved, but we experience spiritual confusion, loss of joy, and an uncomfortable relationship with God. Instead of walking in peace and freedom, we begin to suffer inwardly, as Paul confessed in Today’s Word.
Jesus warned about the things that break our fellowship with Him. He said that it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness (Mark 7:21-22). When these things take hold of our hearts and minds, we lose the joy of being with Christ. We begin to live in darkness instead of light.
This is why we must stay away from these things and instead seek the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit produces love, joy, and peace in our relationship with God; patience, kindness, and goodness in our relationships with others; and faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in how we live personally (Galatians 5:22-23). These are the signs of a life connected to Christ.
Jesus described our relationship with Him like the relationship between a vine and its branches. He said,
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5)
When we remain in Christ through His Word, worship, and prayer, we stay deeply connected to Him. We grow spiritually, and others see the good fruit coming out of our lives. They will see the light of the gospel in us and give praise to our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). So, start following the Spirit of God:
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (Galatians 5:16-18).
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit by doing what He does not want you to do (Ephesians 4:30). Do not settle for the temporary things of the world that will fade away. Instead, invest your life in the things above, the things that last forever.
Do not quench the Spirit by refusing to obey when He leads you to act, speak, or go somewhere for the sake of the gospel (1 Thessalonians 5:19). If you silence His voice, your fellowship with Christ will grow cold.
God loves you and has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:9). He longs for you to live in the joy, peace, and power that come from daily communion with Him. No matter how far you may feel from Christ, His arms are always open, ready to restore and renew your relationship with Him. Return to Him with a heart that listens, trusts, and obeys. He is faithful to forgive, to heal, and to empower so you may stand as His witness to the ends of the earth. May you remain in His love, walk in His Spirit, and bear fruit that lasts for eternity.
Prayer. Lord Jesus, I thank You for every spiritual blessing You have poured into my life since I believed. Help me remain in You and in Your Word. Teach me to live in daily fellowship with You. In Your precious name I pray. Amen.