February 17

Our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son.

1 JOHN i. 3.

If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. — JOHN xiv. 23.

THIS fourteenth chapter of John is full of comfort for the troubled Christian: 1. Heaven is certain (v. 2). 2. The way is plain (v. 6). 3. Power for service is granted (v. 12). 4. Our prayers will be answered (v. 13). 5. The Comforter will come (v. 16). 6. Christ will return (v. 18). 7. Fellowship with the Father is promised (v. 23). What more could we ask? Not only is the future home assured, but here in this life we are promised fellowship with God. But remember, this is conditioned on our loving the Lord and keeping his words. The Person and the Book — the incarnate Word and the written Word — should be the centre of our thoughts. If then, “the words of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom,” we can appropriate this beautiful promise and say with joy, “Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

Wm. Walton Clark.

Love divine, all love excelling,

Joy of heaven to earth come down,

Fix in us thy humble dwelling;

All thy faithful mercies crown.

Jesus, thou art all compassion,

Pure unbounded love thou art.

Visit us with thy salvation;

Enter every trembling heart.

C. WESLEY.