Author, educator and commentator Dr. James Denison has been pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas since June, 1998. Prior to that, he was pastor at churches in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as Midland (at First Baptist!) and Mansfield, Texas. Today's New York Times reports that the company's chief executive is taking a leave of absence because of ongoing health concerns. Mr. Jobs has learned that his health problems were "more complex" than he originally thought. In these days of economic crisis, market analysts worry about Apple's future without its leader.
This week we've been seeking a closer, more intimate relationship with our Leader in the face of changing, challenging times. We've learned from Thomas Kelly's A Testament of Devotion to invite Christ to live in our souls, turn our thoughts toward our Lord, disown ourselves and surrender our day and plans to his Spirit. The bottom line: Choose to dwell in the presence of Christ in each moment. You will experience "a deeper, internal simplification of the whole of one's personality, stilled, tranquil, in child-like trust listening ever to Eternity's whisper" (p. 37).
This is "the life beyond fevered strain. We are called beyond strain, to peace and power and joy and love and thorough abandonment of self. We are called to put our hands trustingly in His hand and walk the holy way, in no anxiety assuredly resting in Him" (p. 38, italics his).
This is to live in the Spirit, displaying his fruit every day. To what degree are you experiencing love? Joy? Peace? Patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control? You can, if you will live in the presence of Christ, in the eternal now. Richard Foster says, "The Christian life comes not by gritting our teeth but by falling in love." When you dwell in Jesus' love each moment, you have his peace.
Thomas Kelly concludes: "I think it is clear that I am talking about a revolutionary way of living. Religion isn't something to be added to all our other duties and thus make our lives yet more complex. The life with God is the center of life, and all else is remodeled and integrated by it. It gives the singleness of eye ... There is a way of life so hid with Christ in God that in the midst of the day's business one is inwardly lifting brief prayers, short ejaculations of praise, subdued whispers of adoration and of tender love to the Beyond that is within. No one need know about it ...
"One can live in a well-nigh continuous state of unworded prayer, directed toward God, directed toward people and enterprises we have on our heart. There is no hurry about it all; it is a life unspeakable and full of glory, an inner world of splendor within which we, unworthy, may live" (p. 76). Let's find our "inner world of splendor" today.
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