E. E. Curtis
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“The gospel” is a wonderful expression embracing all the witness of redeeming love in its infinite length and breadth, and depth and height; and fellowship in this is accordingly a privilege of the highest order.
But the gospel sets God forth, active in His love; and fellowship in the gospel is therefore necessarily active and practical.
Such was the Philippians’ fellowship in the gospel which in the verse before us the beloved Apostle Paul so joyfully recalls whilst himself lying bound in a Roman prison. From the last chapter of the epistle we learn how in the beginning of the gospel, when Paul departed from Macedonia, no assembly communicated with him as concerning giving and receiving, but the Philippians only. Even in Thessalonica they sent once and again to his necessity, and he speaks of having received the things which were sent by them “an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God” (Phil. 4:1818But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. (Philippians 4:18)).
Such today also is “fellowship in the gospel”: it is always active and always practical, for still in wondrous grace is God active in His love.
Let an incident of yesterday illustrate this fellowship in one of the many and varied ways in which it may express itself. The following letter reached me by the morning post: Dear Brother, If you are disengaged could you come over tomorrow? I know a man who is very ill near X Station. I could go with you to see him. The train leaves — at 1:40 p.m. If you could get here about 12, we could have a little dinner before starting. It is an urgent case; I do not think he can possibly last long — cancer is his complaint ... .Yours very affectionately in Him.
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The writer of the letter is a hardworking tradesman with a large family; but the thought of that poor dying man on the canal-side at X, who had led a godless life, troubled him. He remembered, moreover, and could not dispel it from his mind, how the Lord took that journey of thirty miles to meet the women at the well (John 4).
Feeling some incompetency to himself meet the case, but earnestly desiring to partake in the outgoings of the gospel towards this needy one the letter was sent.
I found upon meeting him, that all that was incidental to thus carrying the message had been taken into account — provision for the needs of the poor sufferer, the rail expenses, etc. An empty compartment in the train served as a place for prayer, and “two” were agreed as touching this one thing asked for — the blessing of the soul of him we were to visit (Matt. 18:1919Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 18:19)).
Upon reaching the bedside of the poor dying signalman, it became evident that God had been before us preparing the soul for the reception of the blessing. A Christian mother’s prayers and sayings had been recalled, and repentance had already taken place. How easy then was the task which was mine in unfolding to that penitent soul “the glad and glorious gospel” of God’s grace to men, my fellow worker backing it home by speaking of the joys which that same gospel had brought into his own life, and which made him long that this poor sufferer should also share in the blessing which God is ever waiting to pour into any broken heart.
Deep then was the joy which was ours when we heard him confess Christ as his Savior and his Lord, and exclaim in his new found gladness, “Bless the Lord, O my soul!” whilst his prayers and thanksgiving mingled with ours, and on taking our leave a little later we could not but feel how real and how precious a thing is “fellowship in the gospel.”