One of my favourite songs as a teenager was —
I keep in touch with Jesus, and he keeps touch with me
and so we walk together in perfect harmony.
There’s not a day that passes, there’s not an hour goes by,
but that we have sweet fellowship, my precious Lord and I.
(Margaret W Brown and Howard L Brown, 1942.)
The song had a touch of jazz about it that I enjoyed, but it was also a positive affirmation of the regular harmony and fellowship that exists between Jesus and us. He is very near and through daily walking with him we can enjoy that nearness to the full.
The Christian life is depicted in the Bible as a journey in which we walk together with Christ (Psalm 89:15; Isaiah 35:8-10; 43:2; Colossians 2:6) and the Scriptures frequently talk of our ongoing fellowship with the Lord (1 John 1:3).
The truth is that being in fellowship, not being out of fellowship, is the norm.
We have God’s assurance of his abiding presence in our lives. Jesus said he would be with us forever (Matthew 28:20).
- This union and communion with Christ is indescribable.
- It triumphs in the face of difficulty and discouragement.
- It celebrates in the midst of joy and success.
- It is the ongoing privilege of the people of God.
To read more on this topic see Living in the Image of God, Barry Chant (Miranda: Tabor, 2012 available in eBook and Paperback) from which this edited extract is taken.