A rule I have had for years is to treat the Lord Jesus Christ as a
personal friend. It is not a creed, a mere empty doctrine, but it is
Christ Himself we have. The moment we receive Christ we should receive
Him as a friend. When I go away from home I bid my wife and children
good-bye; I bid my friends and acquaintances good-bye; but I never
heard of a poor backslider going down on his knees and saying:
"I have been near You for ten years. Your service has become tedious
and monotonous. I have come to bid You farewell. Good-bye, Lord Jesus
Christ!"
I never heard of one doing this. I will tell you how they go away;
they just run away.