“We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life.”

This life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us.

Notice that there are four different ways that the apostles encountered Jesus. They heard Him. They saw Him. They looked at Him—that's a particular word that means to gaze upon, to carefully observe. They watched Him for years. And they touched Him.

They heard Him. They saw Him. They looked at Him. They touched Him.

And this encounter with Jesus birthed testimony.

But what was the reason for their testimony? Look, please, at verse 3:

“What we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.”

And then John says:

“We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”

Three out of five Americans say that they're lonely. There is an increasing isolation in our society, isn't there?

In days long gone by, when the fireplace was the primary source of heat in a home, the fireplace became a gathering spot. Television, in and of itself, isn't bad, but the television used to be a gathering spot in the home.

Now, with the many forms of entertainment available to us, and with our phones constantly in our hands, we can find ourselves increasingly isolated from face-to-face interaction.

Online interaction is quite different, isn't it, from face-to-face interaction?

But on a deeper level, there is a spiritual isolation that can occur.

The book of Proverbs, chapter 18, says:

“Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.”

We can isolate ourselves spiritually from one another. And when we do, we lose the counsel of others. We lose accountability. The voice that we begin to listen to is simply our own voice, and God's voice through His Word can become crowded out.

God will have none of this nonsense. None at all.

I think of Luke, chapter 15, the parable of the lost sheep, and how the shepherd searches for that sheep that is lost.

And that's exactly what God does for us.

He searches for us because He desires to be in relationship with us.

This is more than simply social interaction with one another. This is a fellowship that He brings us into—a fellowship of faith.

Look again at verse 3:

“What we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.”

The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for us. He paid our sin debt. He comes to us in the waters of Baptism and washes us in the victory of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. He washes us in His forgiving Word.

Through the cross of Jesus Christ, the gates of heaven are opened for us.

That promise given to us in Baptism is for us.

He brings us into fellowship with Himself. He brings us into the community of faith.

How blessed we are.

Never alone.

Let's pray.

Gracious Heavenly Father, we give You thanks for this time in Your Word. Your Word is truth. We give You thanks, O Lord, that You bring us into the fellowship of faith.

We thank You, Lord, for the relationships into which You bring us. We praise You for Your goodness and for Your grace. We praise You for Your Church.

Thank You, Lord.

In Jesus' name, amen.

May the Lord bless you today.

Encourage someone.

Pastor Eibel