The surroundings of believers to-day are very different from those of 'the past in some respects; in others they are the same. Our comfort in all the changes that come is that we have an unchangeable Saviour, the Son of God. Those of us who have been knowing Him for a long time have learned blessed lessons of His power to meet our every need, and the younger in the way are learning the wonders of His love and care. We are all becoming acquainted with a Person, learning to love and trust Him more and more. Sometimes the trials of the way loom so large that we are much cast down, and it is such a comfort to know that He is guiding, keeping, shielding, giving all the needed strength, wisdom and ability each one needs for the way.

It is a great joy for the heart to realize that the way in Which He leads us ends only in the place He has gone to prepare for us. As we follow the path of our daily lives, there is only one Person who holds our hearts' affections fully, there is only one place in all the universe to which we are going, and the language of the believer's heart was expressed by Asaph three thousand years ago:

"Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but Thee?
And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.
My flesh and my heart faileth:
But God is the strength [rock] of my heart and my portion for ever" (Ps. 73:24-26).

To His people, then, God revealed Himself according to the dispensation in which they lived, as indicated by the names Asaph gave to God in this psalm (see the Numerical Bible). All these years His people have been using these words of faith in Him to express their confidence in Him. But since Christ came we have so much more blessed and precious a revelation of Him, of what He is to us. Christ before the heart as the Object of our affections is the power that draws our hearts from the multitude of attractions which the world presents today to God's people.

The words which John uses of the Father and the Son, "Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3), denote the closest intercourse, sharing the same things, loving them and loving each other, the word "fellowship" in Greek denoting the most intimate relationships in life. To have fellowship with the Son is to be intimate with Him, to walk in accord with Him; and in this case to have Him the Object of our hearts as none else in the universe is. This intimacy with Christ is what we are to seek and hold fast above all else. This is our heart-work here at present, to seek and know a more intimate fellowship with Him who has died for us and lives for us in glory. He said, "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:2,3).

Being a Christian is living a new life and loving a Person, the Son of God. Anything else, no matter what name it may bear or what claims it may make, is not being a real Christian. Believing in Him, loving Him far above all else, how different is this from all the poor imitations Satan has ensnared souls with. "Fellowship with the Son!" What wonders of blessed meaning are in those words!

"Others in the summer sunshine
Wearily may journey on,
I have seen a light from heaven,
Past' the brightness of the sun-
Light that knows no cloud, no waning,
Light wherein I see His face,
All His love's uncounted treasures,
All the riches of His grace.

"Marvel not that Christ in glory
All my inmost heart hath won;
Not a star to cheer my darkness,
But a light beyond the sun.
All below lies dark and shadowed,
Nothing there to cheer my heart,
Save the lonely path of sorrow
Where of old He walked apart."

Hymns of Ter Steegen

Knowing, loving, and obeying are three of the elements of fellowship with the Son. Being satisfied with Him because of what the Holy Spirit has revealed to us of His brightness, His love for us, His care of us, what He has done for us-all has very much to do with the fulfilment of His promise, "I will give you rest." The world was never more alluring than now, and the one remedy for the love of the world, the safeguard against it, is having fellowship with Christ. The more we know Him and love Him, the less power will the world have over us. In the heart that is constantly enjoying communion with Him there is little room for the world, no matter how great its attractions. "I am meek and lowly in heart" is His announcement, and to have the same mind is to be armed against pride and impatience. If difficulties are before you, remember how much greater Christ is than any difficulty in life. Just at the right time and place He will come in and open your way through every hard place. Again and again will He grant this deliverance until you learn to expect Him always to open the way before you. J. W. Newton