Brotherly Fellowship

Listening is one of the most important character traits of a servant of the Lord. Anyone who serves the Lord and serves the people of God must learn to listen. Listen to God and also listen to people. Listen to God to know what is in God's mind concerning His service through me. Listen to people to know their situation and discern how to help them according to God. This lesson needs patience and the spirit of discernment.

Today and the past few days, I have had a wonderful experience of listening to my fellow believers who would confide with me about their situation, mostly their concerns, pains, worries, anxieties, etc. A sister had called me, pouring her heart out to me concerning her family situation and how she fellowshipped for help to pray for them and practical help in whatever way I could. Just listening to her pains and grief took me over half an hour. After which I prayed with her over the phone and promised her that I would pray, consider, and do what I could do best.

A brother called me for prayer and after we prayed, he confided with me about all the things he has been going through in his family, especially with his mother. Incident by incident, point by point, he expressed his view of things and I carefully listened to him. Another brother called me for a time of fellowship as he had not called me for a couple of months now. He expressed whatever he felt needful concerning his life, his family, job, children, etc. I could tell from the narration that the Lord has been working on him and his wife and they are now on the progressive stage in their relationship and spiritual life. A sister called me up to pour out her concern for the stiaution of the saints in her local church and how some saints have veered away from the truth, indirectly causing division. In the midst of it, some faitfhful saints have been sincerely pursuing the ministry and standing firm on the ground of oneness for the Lord's testimony. All the three fellowship lasted for more than an hour over the phone.

The Lord has been gracing me with hearing ears to hear and listen to what the saints have to say. I did not comment much unless the Lord led me strongly to do so. I hear the fact and consider carefully first if the facts narrated were indeed true. And if so, what would the Lord want me to do based on the facts, and how and when I should take action. Until these queries from my side were cleared, I choose not to say anything until the Lord in His own time mainfest things more clearly and directly me to take the needed action. 

I have been learning to serve the Lord in this way. I keep myself open to all the saints whom the Lord would burden to fellowship with me. I take such fellowships as lessons for me to learn. And most of the time it turns out, they are blessings in disguise.

What a brotherly fellowship I have been graced to experience! I learn by experience as the Lord has been gracing me. Lord, grace me on and on...