In the last several Encouraging Notes, we have discussed the value of intimacy with God and its relation to a life of significance. Significance is about God living through us and, therefore, cannot happen without a life of communion with him. God created humanity so that he could spend eternity giving all that he is to us, lavishing his love upon us. Beyond all question, His passionate love for us is far beyond what we can fully comprehend. Everything that we need is found in him because he is the source of all things. The entire universe is held together by him, and nothing good exists without him. A Scripture I often quote says, “For from him and through him and to him are all things.” Rom 11:36

Constant Fellowship with God is necessary for him to be able to give us all that he longs to lavish upon us. The most important thing the baby needs when it comes out of the womb is air. A doctor does not concern himself with how many fingers or toes the baby has or even the color of its eyes until he knows the baby is breathing. Though breathing is natural, breathing may be restricted if there is something wrong with the baby.

For a Christian, spiritual breathing is paramount! If a baby Christian does not learn to live a life of communion with God, everything else they do spiritually will have no value. Many times when someone comes to Christ, ill-informed leaders focus on trying to make them live a righteous life and end up destroying their Christianity. It is the power of constant communion with God that causes a new believer to be filled with the righteousness of God. As Jesus said, the only way to bear fruit is to remain in him.

Jn 15:4-9 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me, you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.

Christianity is not about us living for God; it is about God living through us. Colossians 1:27 says, “Christ in you the hope of glory.” When we live in constant communion with the ever-present, indwelling Spirit of God, a life of Christ-likeness is inevitable. When ill-informed leaders focus their efforts on teaching the young believers to live righteously, they deprive them of the power to live a Christlike life. Virtue attained by human effort will always be short-lived, but righteousness obtained through a life of intimacy with God is like a never-ending bubbling brook.

Recently we discussed that Jesus came to give us life. In John 10, Jesus replied to the Pharisees who focused their teaching on the law. Jesus said, “The thief (teaching of the law) comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I came that you might have life and have it to its fullest. Jn 10:10. Romans 10:4 says, “Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for those who believe.” Only when a person learns the life of faith do they step into the power to live right.

You can go months without food, days without water, but only minutes without air. Air to a human being is like communion with God to a believer. My dear friend, God longs to have communion with you today! Your greatest need is to live connected to, and remain in, the vine (the presence of God). Today is your opportunity to live a life of significance by living your moments in…

Communion with God