The Joy of His Presence

E. Stanley Jones was a missionary, a theologian, and a prolific writer. In his devotional book Victorious Living he brings out the beauty of the abiding presence of the Lord Jesus within us, ever living and ever redeeming, pushing us out to beg the world on His behalf to be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20):

"The deepest joy is the communion of Person with persons. Sometimes our earthly vessels can scarcely contain the weight of this exquisite joy. We are almost tempted to ask Him to stay His hand. But we wouldn't have Him do it for worlds, for this is Life, Life. 'I feel so sacred within,' wrote a very modern girl after tasting this new Life. And no wonder! In the center of our being we commune with Life--our thoughts are washed in His thoughts, our wills are strengthened by His will, our affections are bathed in His. Harnack, speaking of the mystics, says, 'Some perceive the presence of the Spirit with every sense: they see the brilliant light, they hear its voice, they smell the fragrance of immortality, and taste its sweetness.' One moment of that, and it is worth the world. Life can never more be the same.

"To us it is no longer strange that God speaks to Moses out of a burning bush, for have not our hearts become in living fact a burning bush, out of which God speaks to us in tenderest tones--and directive? For out of this fellowship with the fire comes the call to redeem, to bid my people go. So this communion ends in a commission. And that commission in turn feeds upon the communion.

"The wonder is not that we should speak of it, but the wonder is that we should speak of anything else."