“At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord” (Gen 4.26).

It was always God’s intention that mankind enjoy fellowship with Him. Mankind was created in God’s image and so set apart from all other creatures. We were created to be like God and to be with God. Genesis chapter 1 includes specific promises and responsibilities reserved for mankind. We then read that Adam walked and talked with God in the garden. This is not said of the animals.

When that wonderful fellowship was broken and Adam and Eve cast out from the garden, barred from access to the tree of life, the story did not end there.

It is through the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, that a new way of fellowship was born. The unique God-man established a glorious and endless relationship between God and mankind. He taught His followers to address God as Father, just as He did. This is a simple and powerful indication of this new fellowship.

Turning to the book of Revelation this original plan and intention is re-stated. “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them They will be His people and God Himself will be with them, and be their God” (Rev 21.3). The apostle John promises; “we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3.3). Glorious promises!

In Deut 11.19-20, Moses encourages the children of Israel to be ‘soaked’ in the Law of God; “Teach them (these words) to your children, taking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates.”

One danger is that we say we believe in God, and accept His word, but that we only read the Bible or discuss it on ‘special’ occasions. At Church, or a weekly Bible Study, or similar. We leave the other hours of our week Bible-free.

If I am to live out the life of Jesus Christ, and be His ambassador in this world, surely a natural overflow of Bible truth is essential!

Had I visited the home of an Israelite family, on the evidence of this scripture, I would see God’s word as I entered their house, on the gates and door-frames. Had I shared a meal with them, I would have heard conversation punctuated by God’s truth. Had I journeyed with them, I would have been able to share godly discussion. And, as one generation passed, the next generation perpetuated the same values.

In our family homes, in our workplaces, and in our Church friendships, let us make the effort to include Bible truth in conversation. No aspect of life is excluded from God. Let us not live as if it were.

George Fox was the founder of the Quaker movement in the late seventeenth century. His journal does not make the easiest of reads; but has some illuminating incidents. Fox became well known throughout England. He and his followers were often imprisoned for their faith. The journal even records a meeting with Oliver Cromwell, whom Fox tried to convince of his views.

It was around the same time that George Fox wrote to the groups of Friends that had started to meet across England. There was evidently a little confusion with many contributing. In words reminiscent of the apostle Paul in 1 Cor 14, Fox wrote:

All my dear friends in the noble Seed of God, who have known His power, life and patience among you, let it be your joy to hear or see the springs of life break forth in any: through which ye may have all unity on the same, feeing life and power. And above all things, take heed of judging any one openly in your meetings except they be openly profane or rebellious, such as be out of the truth; that by the power, life and wisdom ye may stand over them and by it answer the witness of God in the world, that such, whom ye bear your testimony against, are none of you: so that therein the truth may stand clear and single. But such as are tender, if they should be moved to babble forth a few words, and speak in the Seed and the Lamb’s power, suffer and hear that: that is the tender. And if they should go beyond their measure, bear it in the meeting for peace and order’s sake, and that the spirits of the world be not moved against you. But when the meeting is done, then if any be moved to speak to them, between you and them, one of two of you that feel it in the life, do it in the love and wisdom that is pure and gentle from above: for love is that which does edify, bears all things, suffers long, and does fulfil the law. So in this ye have order and edification, ye have wisdom to preserve you all wise and in patience; which takes away the occasion of stumbling the weak, and the occasion of the spirits of the world to get up; but in the royal Seed, the heavy stone, ye keep down all that is wrong; and by it answer that of God in all. For ye will hear, see, and feel the power of God preaching, as your faith is all in it (when ye do not hear words), to bind, to chain, to limit, to frustrate: that nothing should rise nor come forth but what is in the power: for with that ye will hold back, and with that ye will let up, and open every spring, plant, and spark; in which will be your joy and refreshment in the power of God.

And, Friends, though ye may have been convinced, and have tasted of the power, and felt the light; yet afterwards ye may feel a winter storm, tempest and hail, frost and cold, and temptation in the wilderness, Be patient and still in the power and in the light that does convince you, to keep your minds to God, in that be quiet, that ye may come to the summer, that your flight be not in the winter. For if ye sit still in the patience, which overcomes in the power of God, there will be no flying.