Bedrocks

Fellowship with God is the bedrock of a Christian's joy. Walking in the light and walking in love are the bedrocks of fellowship. The Christian who is sensitive to sin and sensitive to others is sensitive to the presence of God in his everyday life. In order to be sensitive to sin I must agree with God as to what sin is. It is my attempt to establish my own standard of righteousness as opposed to His. Unless I agree with the Spirit's promptings in my life in areas of disobedience, agree by confessing to God that He is right in calling what I'm doing or not doing sin, I cannot abide in His love and in fellowship with Him.
And from His perspective there are only two groups of people in the world: my brothers and sisters in Christ and my neighbors who are in desperate need to become part of the family. I must love both groups as unconditionally as He loves me. Do for them what I would like to be done for me; esteem them and their need better than me and my need.
Until I develop these two attitudes--a sensitivity to sin in my own life and a sensitivity to the need of others to experience His love through me--I will be a joyless Christian. Until I develop these two attitudes, I will have little understanding of what eternal life is, now, in the present tense. In His presence is fullness of joy. The path of light and love makes me fully aware of His presence on a moment-by-moment basis. As I draw near to Him, He draws near to me.