What precious thoughts come before our hearts as we contemplate the word "communion" as it relates to our personal contact with our loving God and Father. "Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." 1 John 1:33That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3).
Is it not marvelous that now, in virtue of our new birth into God's family and our being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we can have and enjoy God's thoughts, all centering around His beloved Son? Before our salvation it could not be, because "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they arc spiritually discerned. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ." 1 Cor. 2:14,1614But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16). "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." 1 John 2:2020But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (1 John 2:20).
How good it is when you and I discover that our gracious Father wants us, yes, longs for us to enter into His thoughts and to share His delights. Have we discovered something of what David experienced when he wrote: "How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me. O God! how great is the sum of them"? Psa. 139:1717How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! (Psalm 139:17). "Jesus answered and said unto him, 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." The Holy Spirit would always direct our hearts to our precious Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect example of blessed uninterrupted communion with His Father, that we might learn the precious secrets of what communion is, and how it is to be maintained.
If we consider the perfect Man, we see that two lovely things characterized Him perfect obedience and perfect communion. "I delight to do Thy will, O my God: yea, Thy law is within my heart." Psa. 40:88I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8). (See also Psa. 1.) "For the end of that man is peace." Psa. 37:3737Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. (Psalm 37:37). Is not His communion with His Father sweetly implied in the Lord's own words when He said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid", also, "These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." (John 14:2727Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27) and 15:11)?
It must follow then, that if we are to know more of this blessed communion with our heavenly Father, there must be simple obedience and submission to the will of God in our daily lives. As the precious Word of God grips our hearts and directs our feet, we commence to have and enjoy His thoughts and in the same proportion we go on our way rejoicing (Acts 8:3939And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:39)).
We have a fine example of communion in the most happy experiences of Abraham's servant in Gen. 24. We must say that this touching story furnishes a beautiful type of the Father sending forth the Holy Spirit to fetch a bride for His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus. The activities of this dear servant seem to set forth many divine principles that should characterize the man of communion! They are as follows: (1) Availability (2) Submission (3) Obedience (4) Prayer (5) Worship (6) Testimony (7) Continuance.
Availability
This faithful servant in Abraham's house was held in honor and trust. The word "servant" appears fourteen times in this chapter. It is obvious that he was near and ready to receive communications from his master. "Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors." Prov. 8:3434Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. (Proverbs 8:34). How good to be available when the blessed Lord would speak to us. Does He not have much to tell us? Are we so distracted by this world and our getting through it that the Lord Jesus cannot get our attention? It was not so with Abraham's servant. He listened carefully to every word and then submitted to Abraham's plan.
Submission
"The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter." Oh the importance of quiet, full submission to the expressed will of God. All this leads to the servant's unquestioned obedience as seen in verse 10. "And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand.”
Obedience
"He arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor." All indeed is put into action by obedience and is there anything better than obedience? "Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." 1 Sam. 15:2222And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22).
Prayer—Worship
One of the most vital elements to communion with God is prayer. As our God would speak to us, He looks for our response and this indeed is prayer. How many times in this chapter do we witness this dear servant's head bowed, either in prayer or worship (vv. 12, 13, 14, 26, 27, 52). With a deep sense in his heart of the Lord's special undertaking, he exclaims, "Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of His mercy and His truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren." Can we not say that this lovely statement defines well our word communion?
How precious to our Father's heart is our worship ascending up to Him as we discover His infinite love and perfect grace to us. We may well say over and over, "Great is Thy faithfulness." Worship to God had become a vital part in the life of this dear servant. Perhaps he had learned much by observing his master Abraham and his altar.
Testimony
Let us observe still another outstanding feature about this man—that is, his testimony. He speaks well and frequently of his master and his master's son. This is very blessed! (See vv. 12, 14, 27, 35, 36) Sharing our joy in the Lord with others will certainly deepen our own joys in fellowship with Him. "The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." Prov. 11:2525The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. (Proverbs 11:25).
Continuance
We also notice that Abraham's servant was resolute. There was a fine continuance about him. He began his commission well and would not be turned aside until he had completed the task. With so many divine indications of the Lord's undertaking for him, surely it was his special joy to present this beautiful woman to his master's son at the end!
I wonder if, after hearing of the gracious way the Lord dealt with his servant, that Abraham may have smiled and said, "Well done thou good and faithful servant." Oh, may we seek to know more of this sweet communion with our Father day by day and covet His well done" in that coming day. May that still small voice find us available, subject, obedient, prayerful, praiseful, witnessing a good confession and continuing on until that blessed moment when we hear Him say, "Come up hither!" "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Rev. 22:2020He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20).
W. O'Brien