Communion with God
The following quote by J.I. Packer was posted by Justin Taylor over at Between Two Worlds.
“. . . whereas to the Puritans communion with God was a great thing, to evangelicals today it is a comparatively small thing. The Puritans were concerned about communion with God in a way that we are not. The measure of our unconcern is the little that we say about it. When Christians meet, they talk to each other about their Christian work and Christian interests, their Christian acquaintances, the state of the churches, and the problems of theology—but rarely of their daily experience of God. Modern Christian books and magazines contain much about Christian doctrine, Christian standards, problems of Christian conduct, techniques of Christian service—but little about the inner realities of fellowship with God. Our sermons contain much sound doctrine—but little relating to the converse between the soul and the Saviour. We do not spend much time, alone or together, in dwelling on the wonder of the fact that God and sinners have communion at all; no, we just take that for granted, and give our minds to other matters. Thus we make it plain that communion with God is a small thing to us. But how different were the Puritans! The whole aim of their ‘practical and experimental’ preaching and writing was to explore the reaches of the doctrine and practice of man’s communion with God.”
Packer, A Quest for Godliness, p. 215 (chapter 12).
I for one find that this issue of communion with God is both an immense struggle that pushes me daily to the cross and an important measure of my day to day pursuit of Christ.
Did I joyfully dwell on God and the things of God throughout my day? Was I constantly praising, thanking, and lifting up my sould to my God today? Was I aware of God’s grace, God’s constant presence, and the reality of my access to God’s throne today? Did I take time to relish and simply enjoy the beauty and truth of the gospel? Was I as an individual- my whole being- God-centered as I went about my daily routine today?
Here is a challenge- sometime this week ask another believer about their communion with God. It may take some explaining but by God’s grace it will pay off. May God grant sweet fellowship as we together pursue Christ.