Called into Fellowship

“God is Faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ.” -1 Corinthians 1:9

While I in Personal Spiritual Disciplines today, I was challenged by a question that Dr. Don Whitney asked. He said, “How many of you have your testimony written down somewhere?” He, then, began to espouse upon the benefits of having one’s testimony available for others to read. So now I will recount the means by which God saved me:

I remember that the Word of God was never far from my grasp. There was always a Bible around. My mom read me Bible stories at night. I remember going to church, and I even remember being baptized when I was younger. Upon further reflection, I know that I did not fully grasp the Truth. 

Once high school came around, I had one goal: I wanted to fit in. As a young black man, the only option seemed to be Hip-Hop culture. For the record, I enjoyed rap (and still do), but the secular Hip-Hop culture promotes a lifestyle that does not mix with the morals and ethos of the Bible. So in my pursuit of relevance and popularity, I abandoned any pursuit of God (although I still verbally adhered to the thought of God). 

My sister had been a consistent witness to me for God. She is ten years older than me, and I look up to her. But during this time of my life, her task of directing me to God did not mix with the aspirations of my heart. I remember visiting her and her husband in Atlanta. They taught a class at their church, which meant that we had to go to church early. I already was not a fan of church and it made me so angry that we had to be there over an hour early. I was obviously angry and my sister could not tell why exactly. Although I could not verbalize it then,  I knew that I did not want to submit to God. I wanted to continue to live life on my own terms.        

My anger continued as I went home. My mind was set to continue to follow the path I had chosen. One day, it all changed…

All I remember is that I was sitting on my bed. I don’t remember what I was thinking. Maybe I was not thinking much at all. But nonetheless, I sat of my bed. All of a sudden, overwhelming rivers of love flowed over my soul. One moment I did not follow God; the next moment I felt His presence in my heart. I was overwhelmed by the Love of God. He had every right to flood me with His anger, but in His grace, He revealed to me His deep love for me! I was awestruck and joyous. How could He love a rebel like me? I rejected His authority, and He gave me grace! 

I wanted to respond in some way. I wanted Him to know that I loved Him and would follow Him. All the cds that I owned were filled with immoral filth. I gave them to my mom and said, “throw them away.” I had to make a clean break.

I got a pocket New Testament and began devouring it. I read it every night until the early mornings. It truly was like water to a parched soul and food to an empty stomach. Through it, I could put words to the love that I felt from the Father. He sent Jesus to die in my place for my sin. 

I came across a Scripture that put into words the reason I felt such joy, John 17:3 states, “Eternal life is to know the One and Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He sent.” The God of all creation wanted to have a relationship with me. I had a relationship with the One whom I rejected. He stretched out His hands of fellowship to me. I was am and forever will be astonished that I can say, “God knows me and I know God." 

This fellowship is there for all who would renounce their own agendas and believe on the One who died for sin. He will call you "into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ"