COMPANIONSHIP WITH CHRIST

COMPANIONSHIP WITH CHRIST

Both at ———— and at ————— the Lord helped us, and we had a very good time at both places. I trust that there is a growing desire to know Him better. That is a remarkable word: “This is the eternal life, that they should know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ” (John 17: 3). We could not know Him in any other way. Acquaintance with Him not only satisfies the heart, but eclipses all other kind of acquaintance. As His companions, we have His oil of gladness. One will be better and more useful in natural acquaintanceship, but once the heart knows the satisfaction of being acquainted with Him, its sensibility is so increased that like the anointing oil, there cannot be anything like it. Communion is concert with Christ in His own thoughts, and this is real companionship. If we have it not with Him, we cannot have it with one another. In the family circle there may be plenty of affection, but little real company. When we descend to the natural, we are really like the bride in Song of Songs 5: 2, “I sleep, but my heart waketh”. Inactive in heart with reference to the Lord though the affection is there. Alas! how ready one is to leave His company even after knowing it. This was the case in Canticles 5.

I think it is a great help to see that if you are in communion you are in concert with the mind of God. You are looking at everything as He sees it. Very often in the study of scripture we are occupied with the meaning of it (right enough in itself), but when you would apprehend God’s mind in the passage you must be near enough to Him to see as He sees it. “In thy light shall we see light” (Psalm 36: 9).

^[p. 189] What is the difference between service, fruit-bearing and testimony? Which requires the greater grace, or rather what is the nature of the grace required or necessary for each?