Intimacy with God
The intimacy that draws us in, is the same that sends us out!!!
Getting in…
The bible says that a new way was created by the blood of Jesus and now we have free access to the Father.
“…Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us…” Hebrews 10:19-25
This is the greatest benefit mankind can have from the work of the cross. Jesus came to restore peace between God and human race. A brand new opportunity is given and Jesus is the only way.
We need to understand that intimacy is God’s original plan for creation… it is God’s desire!!!
Intimacy with God is not a choice that I have, but it is the only way.
It’s by this relationship that we are reset from our own ways back to the original plan.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” Isaiah 55, “… more of Him less of me…” John 3:30.
Come closer to Him and he will come closer to you - James 4:8.
Prayer time, reading the bible, fellowship with other believers, time of worship (individual and collective) are some of the things that will create our routine in this relationship.
Breaking Through…
I am not here to say that to have this life is easy, but there is something I can say:
The hardest thing to overcome is “me and my”
Self-sufficiency: we don’t believe we are in such need of this relationship. So many people say they don’t spend time in prayer because they don’t know how to pray. In fact no one knows, but it is the Holy Spirit who teaches us. Once I heard a preacher saying: “… we don’t pray because we believe we can do without it. God is not something I want but is the only One I need.”
Busyness: intimacy demands time and dedication. God is everywhere all the time (He Is Omnipresent, but we will not benefit from it if we don’t bring our minds and hearts to a place where He is the centre of our attention. Researchers calculate that more than 10,000 thoughts come through our minds every day. This intimacy demands specific time of dedication. I remember in my youth being challenged by a pastor. He asked me: Would you like to know how much you love God? I answered YES and that changed my life. The amount of time you spend knowing Him and learning about His commandants is how much you love Him.
Getting out…
The result of this intimacy is what it says in 2 Corinthians 3:18…” we who contemplated the Lords Glory, are being transformed into his image….”
Those who walk in intimacy become more like him. God loves people and the fruit of our intimate relationship with God is not just for personal sanctification. The mature fruit of this relationship is measured by how beneficial we become in the lives of our neighbours. So many people leave the church because they are offended by its failures, but the fruit of the Spirit is looking to forbear and to love the offenders.
“… Not giving up in meeting together but encouraging one another...”
We cannot say we love Him who we don’t see if we don’t love the church who we see.
So many Christians condemn people because of the condition of the world, but the bible reminds us that Jesus came to the world because of the people.
The same love who brings us in is the same that compels us to go out. The same intimacy that draws me to God must be the same that leads me to people.
God Bless!!!
