October 12, 2026 | Be Connected
Jesus is the Word of Life
Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4(NIV)
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.
Devotional
While driving with my son Joshua, now a high school sophomore, he told me about the friends he’s made through online gaming. I’m glad he connects with others, but I have also begun to worry not only about his safety but also about his spiritual growth. It struck me how quickly the word “fellowship” can become just another word for hanging out instead of something deeper and more meaningful. That moment made me ask myself what real Christian fellowship should look like: Who is forming our hearts? What truths guide our conversations? Are our relationships bringing us closer to Jesus, or quietly leading us away?
John begins his letter by reminding us that Jesus Christ, the eternal Word of life, came into the world as a human so we could be saved from sin and brought back into fellowship with God. When John says “we,” he speaks as someone who actually walked and talked with Jesus, sharing what he saw and heard himself. This is important because real Christian fellowship is not based on feelings or convenience, but on the solid truth of God’s Word.
From this truth, unity is essential. A divided group cannot work well, so we need to protect and value our unity. The Holy Spirit helps us stay close to Christ every day. Even though we have not seen or touched Jesus like John did, we are not missing out. We have the reliable testimony of those who did, written in Scripture and made alive by the Spirit. Because of this, we are invited into the same real and living fellowship with Christ and with each other.
Call to Action: Try to bring the Lord into your assemblies and your fellowship. You can start by saying grace before a meal or taking a moment to pray before a tough conversation. Let His presence guide every action.
