Psalm 119:63 says, “I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.” This verse has several great thoughts upon which to meditate. In short, every Christian should be the companion of anyone who fears God and obeys His word. But I want us to focus upon the idea of fear or respect. The only one who can truly be my partner is the one who fears or respects the same issues that I fear or respect. Furthermore, we both must fear or respect the same issues that God then deems important. There are at least four important subjects that a companion of mine must respect.
First, we must have in common a respect for God’s way. There are so many of God’s ways that must be agreed upon, but there are none more basic than salvation. A partner of mine must agree with God’s way for a person to enter heaven through Jesus Christ (faith-John 8:24; repentance-Acts 17:30; confession-Matthew 10:32; baptism-Acts 2:38). We cannot be partners with those who are unbelievers and who are unrighteous (2 Corinthians 6:14).
Second, we must have in common a respect for God’s word. If I truly respect God, I must respect His word and my companion must also respect God’s word (Psalm 119:89; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). It is shocking to find out the number of people who claim the name “Christian” who do not even believe in the inspiration of the scriptures.
Third, we must have in common a respect for God’s work. God’s work has commonly been referred to as the “Great Commission.” A companion of mine needs to be interested in working hard with evangelism (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15). Only by this means will the church grow and will I and my companion be rewarded for faithfulness to God.
Fourth, we must have in common a respect for God’s walk. God has a code of conduct for us. Because He is holy, we must be holy. Micah 6:8 says, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
He also wants us to walk in obedience to Him: “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king” (1 Samuel 15:22-23). In general, this means that we will gladly do the commands which are given to us and fearfully refrain from all sin that God has prohibited.
Christians find fellowship or commonality with one another only when we are united by the blood of Christ and have a common respect for God and His concerns. If this commonality is lacking, then we have no grounds upon which to be in fellowship.
Kyle Campbell