INTIMACY……….
I started thinking about this word when I came across a statement in The Message, “The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.”
How incredible that you and I have been called to BE FRIENDS OF GOD. And, not just friendship with God but intimate friendship. A deep and lasting relationship that comes out of knowing Him both personally and experientially. John tells us that “our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” and Paul reminds us that “…we have been called into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ.”
AN UNDIVIDED HEART
I just love the thought that we can know God and yet never stop knowing Him. He is from everlasting to everlasting, eternal and immense in love for us. There is a deep longing in the Father’s heart to spend time with us, having our undivided attention and to pour out His affection upon us. It is no wonder that David the Psalmist cried out, “Give me an undivided heart, that I might fear you…”
There is also the delight of the fruitfulness of such intimate friendship. “But you, O God, are both tender and kind, not easily angered, immense in love, and you never, never quit.”
Dear friends, we are called to this relationship by the Father who longs for and has provided a way for us to experience daily intimacy with Himself. He has cleared the way for us to know the immensity of this unique relationship. Jesus has removed every obstacle in our lives and poured Himself into us. He has whet our appetites by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. There is nothing more important than to desire Jesus and enjoy the promise of intimate fellowship with Him. Best of all it is not for a select few……..
“I’ll be their God, they’ll be my people. They won’t go to school to learn about me, or buy a book called God In Five Easy Lessons. They’ll all get to know me first hand, the little and the big, the small and the great.” [Hebrews 8 The Message]