I love fires. Not the type that rage in my home state of Montana at this time of year, but campfires. The contained fire one lights to sit around to roast marshmallows or hot dogs. The ones we gather around on cool, fall evenings to tell stories and tall tales.

Campfires played a role in my life as long as I can remember. As a young adult, I spent many hours around a fire at youth retreats listening to moving testimonies of a life transformed by Christ. Later as an adult, I gathered around a fire with family and friends to just share life’s experiences.

Fire is mesmorizing and seems to bring out the contemplative in most people. Perhaps that is why we brought out the guitar and sang campfire songs like, “It Only Takes a Spark,” or “Kumbaya, My Lord.” There is a sense of serenity and calm that comes with fireside sitting, at least for me. Koinonia comes to mind.

Koinonia is a Greek word often associated with Christian fellowship. Used in scripture to describe a relationship between two individuals, it bears exploring. According to the Greek dictionary, koinonia is “an association of close mutual relationship and involvement with another; an alliance with another either formally or informally. There is an implication of intimacy, singleness of purpose, trust of another, sharing of material goods, and harmony rather than hostility.”

Bless those who read the whole definition because I know it seems a bit long. There is an important concept I want to explore involving the principle of koinonia. If you skipped the definition, I invite you to pause, rewind and read it slowly.

⁸He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. ⁹God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership {koinonia} with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:8-9

This is a power house statement Paul makes to the church in Corinth and, ultimately, to you and me. Two statements stand out to me. First, I will be blameless when Christ returns because God is doing something in me! That is powerful. It isn’t me and I’m not alone. It is HIM in me that accomplishes the work.

Secondly, I am invited into partnership with Jesus! This is amazing. The invitation exists for me to be in a close mutual relationship with Jesus Christ that involves intimacy, singleness of purpose, trust, provision and harmony!

Only once did I consider a partnership with someone. We discussed the venture, considered the capital that would be needed and went our separate ways to pray about it. It did not happen.

This is different. I am invited to partner with the Creator of the universe. Let’s face it – I don’t bring much to the table. Just my self and my willingness to be in relationship. The rest — that comes from HIM!

Have you responded to the invitation? Today, I needed to be reminded that my life isn’t lived on my own but out of a partnership with Jesus. I needed to remember that he has the business plan, not me. You see, I often forget. I grow confused and anxious, afraid I will fumble the ball. I needed the reminder to pause and get quiet with Jesus to hear the next steps, to get in step with his purpose.

I invite you to pause, take a deep breath and ask Jesus to show you the next steps for your life. He will do it because he is faithful to his promises!