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John Gilmour, a godly Britisher who loved to witness for Christ, always carried gospel books to give to people as he had the opportunity. One sunny day Gilmour was walking in a little village when he came across an old Irishman selling lids, kettles, and saucepans. Gilmour greeted the man, “Good morning, how is business today?” “Oh,” said the Irishman, “I cannot complain.” Then Gilmour said, “What a grand and marvelous thing it is to be saved!” The old man looked very intently at him and replied, “I know something better than that.” “Better than being saved? I would like to know what that is.” Then with a warm smile, the old man responded, “The companionship of the Man who saved me, sir.” The Christian life doesn’t consist only of being forgiven and going to heaven when we die. Jesus Christ wants us to enjoy fellowship with Him every day. That’s how we get to “know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Philippians 3:10). I’m reminded of an old hymn which says, “Friendship with Jesus, fellowship divine; oh, what blessed sweet communion! Jesus is a friend of mine.” This holy intimacy is ours through confessing our sin and obeying Christ.
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Further thoughts:
In Exodus 33:11, Moses and the Lord talked “as a man speaks to his friend”. Moses enjoyed not merely an occasional phone call with the Lord, but frequent, direct conversation with Him that other Israelites could only observe from a distance. During those intimate talks, the Lord gave Moses instructions for leading the people. My friend, because of what Jesus Christ has done for us, and because the Holy Spirit now lives within all believers, we too can enjoy a special friendship and closeness with our Lord. He speaks to us through His Word and by His Spirit, and brethren we have the special privilege of talking to Him at any given time in prayer. What a joy and what a privilege to talk intimately to the One who creator us and breathed into man the breathed of life.
(1) Are you a member of God’s family having trusted Christ as Lord and Savior?
(2) If so, do you enjoy His satisfying friendship?
(3) And for those who don’t know Jesus Christ as Savior you may ask “Why do I need what Jesus Christ has to offer”? My friend, because life apart from Him is nothing short of a living death (Ephesians 2:1-5). To seek ultimate happiness in a personal relationship or in material things apart from Christ is utter futility and will lead only to despair. Jesus didn’t promise to give you everything you want, but He did promise an abundant life (John 10:10). If you have not received the forgiveness of sin and new spiritual life that He wants to give you, do so this very moment. Trust Him to meet your deepest needs, and in so doing you will have a:
Love that can never be fathomed; Life that can never die; Peace that can never be understood; Rest that can never be disturbed; Joy that can never be diminished; Hope that can never be disappointed; Glory that can never be clouded; Happiness that can never be interrupted; Light that can never be extinguished; Strength that can never be overcome; Beauty that can never be marred; Purity that can never be defiled; and Resources that can never be exhausted.
