Associating with God

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 16, 1902

Associating with God

Much stress is laid on good associations among children and others. “A man is known by the company he keeps” is more than an ordinary saying. This law of association holds good in our soul relations with God. One cannot embody truth and righteousness in his life who is not in some good degree intimate with God. Spiritual association, that is, intercourse and companionship of soul with soul, are the most powerful and determining influences in life. The disciples were great in goodness and spiritual power because of their intimate and constant association with Christ. What came to them through material and spiritual association with God in Christ will come to every child of God who cultivates spiritual fellowship with him. Such fellowship is not a vague theory, but an actual and blessed reality. It means familiarity with God’s thoughts as expressed in his Word and taught by his Spirit. It means heavenly aims and holy purposes wrought into human life as sources of power and springs of action. It means the gradual fashioning of human life after the model of the divine life. This process is a gradual one. We must grow into the divine likeness as we enter into a deeper understanding of the divine will. He who dwells thus with God dwells in light and peace, in holiness and joy.—Sabbath Recorder.