Delighting in Christ
Communion with Christ is the sweetest and most valuable treasure of the Christian. It is intimate fellowship with the One who created him and saved him from his sins. It is the abiding in Christ, who is the vine, so that in Him we may bear fruit and so that our desires, affections, will, mind and heart are conformed to Christ, who is the image of God.
Communion with God brings joy
The Puritan John Owen writes in his classic work Communion with God: “When once the soul of a believer hath obtained sweet and real communion with Christ, it looks about him, watcheth all temptations, all ways whereby sin might approach, to disturb him in his enjoyment of his dear Lord and Savior, his rest and desire. How doth it charge itself not to omit any thing, nor to do any thing that may interrupt the communion obtained!”
John Owen’s point is that when the soul of a believer has come to discover the sweetness and the satisfaction of communion with Christ, that soul will do whatever it takes to protect that communion.
We protect what we love
After all, that which you enjoy, you protect. You will watch over it and defend it against anything that will impede your joy in that object. If you find joy in your family, you will value your days off and take vacations in order to enjoy that which you love. What is your hobby? You will schedule it into your day, pay what you need to, even make others work around your schedule in order to protect that time for your hobby because you enjoy it that much.
This is not necessarily idolatry. The Lord created us as creatures that have the capacity to enjoy and delight in things, in landscapes, in people and in other objects. That’s why you are not careless about that which you enjoy, whether that’s a hobby, sports or even Netflix. And you know what? You shouldn’t be, if the things you enjoy are pleasing to the Lord. (As a side note, some of us probably need to more discerning about the things that we enjoy.)
Neither should you be careless about your joy and delight in Christ. Riches make men watchful. If Christ is the greatest treasure that you possess, then watch over that great treasure with all diligence.
Lack of quality communion destroys joy
Watchfulness over your delight in Christ requires that you not only combat sin, but that you also avoid anything that may disturb your delight in Christ. Think of marriage. What types of things could disturb or interrupt the enjoyment of marriage? It might be an absence of quality time, such as dates or regular, meaningful conversations; lack of intimacy; giving yourself emotionally and/or physically to someone else; lust; or idolizing work or hobbies to the neglect of your spouse. All of these things can decrease our enjoyment of marriage. The same principle also applies to friendships, family and the fellowship we have with brothers and sisters in Christ.
So, if you have found your joy in the Lord lacking recently, ask yourself, “Have I allowed anything into my life that has kept me from treasuring Christ?”
Only you or someone close to you can answer that question. What needs to be removed in order to restore that delight? What things do you need to start doing in order to restore and increase that joy in the Lord? Delighting in the Lord comes from knowing Him intimately and personally in a progressive manner. This is the essence of eternal life, as Scripture teaches in John 17:3: “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
Ademi Mirabal is the pastor of Seacoast Community Church in Portsmouth, NH. You can reach him at ademi@sccnh.com.