Saints, 21 Dec 10
How intimate are you and The Heavenly Father?
I submit to you that no matter how you answer this question, God wants to go deeper in His relationship with you.
This is amazing. The Most High Creator God desires deep communion with each of us. This truth is very different than what most of the world’s religions assert about their gods. Most religions have a god who is distant and cannot be known intimately. No, not The One true, Most High God, He is a personal God, who values each person. He put a price tag on human life. He decreed that each human life was as valuable to him as His own Son. Let this steep for a while…you are as valuable to God as His own Son.
What does our God desire from us? Worship? Obedience? Brokenness? Loyalty? Repentance? Yes to all of these and more. He desires intimacy. Again, see how Jesus prayed in John 17,
John 17:20-21 (ESV)
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Yes, Jesus prayed for intimacy with God. This is not a closeness which selfishly focuses on our enjoyment only, no, this is a closeness which affects our hearts and minds and consequently impacts lives. This intimacy results in something. It transforms the lives of those around us. For those around us somehow see Jesus in us. They see His love. They see truth lived in the flesh. Jesus is the truth.
John 14:6 (ESV)
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
In other words, the eternity which has permeated our lives is spread to others so that people no longer wallow in temporal mud puddles, consumed with things that will burn up in the end. No, as they are brought to The Most High Creator God, as they see Him in us, they are filled with a desire for more of Him—they come into His light and chase the things of Him. They desire the eternal. They come to know God the Father and God the Son, just like Jesus says in John 17:3,
John 17:3 (ESV)
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
This relationship with God is the core of our faith. We deeply commune with God every day. We abide in Him. He lives in us. His Holy Spirit leads, empowers, transforms, convicts, teaches, reminds, and even compels us. What then? What is the result of all of this? The result is Fruit! God uses our deep relationship with Him to produce fruit--fruit that remains (John 15:16).
Yes, Father, please help us to be closer to You. Convict us of anything that is hindering a deeper relationship with You. God, may our lives completely be filled by Your hope, love, peace, joy, and a compelling to pray so that we are completely useful to You--all to Your glory. Father, we want more of You. Father, we desire to see more fruit—fruit that remains.
Yes, may the words of Hosea be our hearts’ desire today,
Hosea 6:3 (NASB)
3 "So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth."
3 "So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth."
See how Jeremiah makes it clear. We are to know God over and above wisdom, might, and riches,
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NASB)
23 Thus says the Lord, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;
24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the Lord.
23 Thus says the Lord, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;
24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the Lord.
So Saints,
How intimate are you and The Heavenly Father? I challenge you to make this your life priority. Know God more intimately. Pray for this. Diligently seek it. I believe this is the heart of revival—believers running after God. As we live this, a passion for God will spread.
May God grant us a compelling passion to know Him more.
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