An Opportunity to Fellowship

Something I noticed as we wrapped up the study in Colossians was the close connection between the churches of Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis. These three cities were located in the Lycus River valley, and were within about 12 miles of each other. 

Twelve miles today would take about fifteen minutes to travel, but the Colossian believers couldn’t hop into their cars or catch a bus to get to the neighboring towns. For a healthy young adult, walking from one city to another would have taken about four hours, a major commitment for a day.

This weekend the Berean Churches of Siskiyou County have the opportunity to meet together. Our churches are all within sixty miles of each other. With automobile transportation, that journey can be made in about an hour, a much smaller time commitment than the Laodiceans would have to make to get to Colossae.

But if you stop and consider why those early churches were so closely linked, it makes more sense. They were ‘the few’ Christians in the midst of a pagan society. Surrounded by non-believers, they would long for fellowship and friendship with others who had the same faith. 

Many believers in very difficult areas of our world today experience the same loneliness and desire for fellowship. It is not easy to be a Christian alone. 

We are so blessed to have other believers to fellowship with. I hope and pray that we can make the time to gather, to encourage each other and share our common mission.

John Wetzig