A Monday morning says hello and soon oh too soon must I begin to work, this I know. But can I not spend a bare few minutes typing up a little soliloquy? Whether or not I’m granted permission, I proceed. It is a cold morning and though I wish I could enjoy it with a nice long walk, there is no time alas. Perhaps later! For the now, I simply sit and meditate on what I’ve read this morning. From beautiful words of comfort and joy found in the Bible to words of strong exhortation and sweet encouragement from JC Ryle, I’m grateful for the time I have to ponder heavenly things as I think on the inheritance that is mine through the glorious work of Jesus Christ. Soon enough the hustle and bustle of the daily stresses will commence and I shall deal with those in their proper order. But no matter what comes, I walk forward in calm confidence that all I do is through the grace and power granted me by God himself. I rejoice knowing that I am called a child of God and have no fear of what may come this day. Though I was once a sinner vile and blind of eye and perverse of heart, I now have been made anew, am regenerated true and born again that I might sing glory glory to my God! Jesus is my friend. What a thought! I sit here and let that wash over me and think on it again. Jesus is my friend.

And though now I act in faith and bemoan the fact that I cannot take his hand and feel the scars and touch the side that bore the spear for me, I do look upward now knowing that he is there at the right hand of God ever mediating for me his friend. Yet he is there yet also here in union with me in divine mystery that I don’t fully understand. But this union is something beautiful, a vine that I am part of. Yes, I abide in Christ. I close my eyes for a second and think again that I am a child of God. The Spirit prods me closer down the path and reminds me that this world is not my home. I have another and even now my friend Jesus makes it ready for me. Soon I come. Not yet. But soon. I long for that far country where I shall sit at the feet of Jesus and share a meal with him. Now I think on the meal I take in memory, that wine and bread which reminds me of that work which Jesus did for me. His body, broken for me. His blood, given for me. I am washed and clean and wear robes of white because the Lamb of God gave his life for me. And this is not a mere transactional note in the divine ledgers. No, Jesus looks to me in love and stretches out his hand and says come. Come to me and you shall find your rest. Yes, my Lord, I come. I rest in you. I delight to say – Jesus, my dear friend and brother, I rest in you! My Lord and my God, I rest in you.