If you’re a Christian, you probably know the drill. You know the things you’re supposed to do, and even more so, you know what you’re not supposed to do. You know you should probably read the Bible more, pray more, evangelise more. You know you should probably do and serve more. But to enjoy God? That may be a foreign concept to you. How do we do that?
Thankfully, Tim Chester tackles this subject helpfully and in highly thought-provoking ways. He starts the book off with a Monday morning of a very ordinary couple, Mike and Emma. They, like us, are trying to start their week well, but life gets messy and frustrating and the day has only just begun. In the midst of the busyness of work and/or parenthood, the mundane, the ordinary… how are we to enjoy God?
This book addresses many ordinary and everyday things we may experience, and shows us how such ordinary and everyday things can point to a characteristic or work of at least one member of the Trinity. As you read chapter by chapter, your eyes will begin to open with wonder as you realise how presently and constantly God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are at work in your life and in the lives of those around us. And page by page, you will realise how little it is about what we do and about our efforts.
This book is theologically dense, but in an easily digestible fashion. The chapters aren’t long, and all end with practical ways to apply what was discussed, followed by reflection questions. This is a great book to read with others, or one for you to slowly digest by yourself, taking time to soak in each chapter and implement its action point. I would even recommend reading one chapter a week/month to truly digest and apply it to your life.
“Our actions don’t make us Christians or make us more of a Christian or keep us as Christians—for our union with God is all his work. Our actions do make a difference to our enjoyment of God—for our communion with God (our enjoyment of our union with God) involves a two-way relationship.”
“Owen said, “You can no way more trouble or burden the Father, than by your unkindness in not believing in his love”.”
By Eunice Kiem
17 January 2021