AFFECTION DESIRES COMMUNION
AFFECTION DESIRES COMMUNION
Affection desires communion. The more you know of the position in which God has set you in Christ, the more your heart, led by the Spirit, longs to be in practical accordance with it. You are empowered to be, in life and character, what you are in Christ, but that is death to one’s selfishness. ‘The song is lovely, but I cannot dance to it!’ The most learned church lost its first love. In first love the Object is always in sight, and love is never satisfied unless it is answering to the heart of the loved One. Christ has made us everything [p. 504] to suit Himself, as we see in Ephesians 1, but down here, if we are true to Him, we walk worthy of our vocation. As you learn His purpose for you, you long to know more of the “exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward” (Ephesians 1: 19). We cannot know Christ’s present mind unless we are in concert with Him in the heavenly scene where He is - that is the old corn of the land. If I feed on Him as He was down here, it is the manna. Love values much the manna; but love is not satisfied without knowing its Object where He is at the present moment, and this is communion.
The object of all God’s discipline is to accomplish His purpose for you, and the more you know yourself, according to God, the better you see the necessity for the discipline to which you are subjected. The surprise or discontent often awakened in us by discipline arises from our not seeing ourselves as God sees us.
When we have tasted His love in saving us, we think that One who loves us so much and has all power, will do everything for us down here, as we would like it to be done. This clearly is making our own natural desires the object and measure of our blessing, instead of God’s desires for us! But if the natural mind is enmity against God, how can the desires of our nature tally with His desires? Would His perfect love accomplish His desires for me, or mine? Surely His own! and then I find that His are entirely in contravention to mine - even to my best desires! As His desires for me are effectuated, I find that it is so at the expense of my own!
I mean that self and its likings are set aside with equal steps, as God’s desires for me are carried out, and we are glad to have it so!
If you are undecided for Christ now, making a compromise for your children’s sake, you will surely lose what you seek to save! We never spare a thing in unbelief, that we do not take the most effectual means to lose it!
[p. 505] I feel when souls are hindered by the legal restrictions under which they are placed, that the Lord causes the light of His grace to gleam through their prison bars; but when these are removed, I do feel that it is very sad indeed if the purpose of heart to walk with Him is not fully manifested. My thought and desire for you is that you may make a bright stand for Him. We want in this day souls who openly and fully can give up all for Christ out of pure love to Himself.
I long more and more for this love to Him, as He is known in the scene of light and glory where He now is.
The Lord keep you strong in the purpose of your heart to follow Him, and He will daily assure your heart that it is the good part which shall not be taken away from you.
Here is a question for you: In what circumstances ought the body of Christ to be found down here? As He was here? or as He left it?
The Lord’s supper is the latter.