What is your understanding of that phrase?
Your understanding will either move you towards total abandonment and surrender, or it will keep you in a place of complacency. You will either serve Him with your whole hearts or give Him lip service. The apostle Paul said of intimacy with Jesus in Philippians 3:
“I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
Philippians 3:7-14 NLT
Intimacy or lack thereof will always show itself in what takes priority in our lives. No one or nothing should ever take the place reserved for the Lord in your life. God says this about those who diligently seek Him. He’s a rewarder of those who do. What’s the reward? Do you have desires, dreams, hopes, plans, children, marriage etc? Then He’s the One who’ll bring the desired outcome to the diligent seekers. Hebrews 11:6
The word diligent means: persevering attention; constant effort, persistent. This speaks of a life that hotly pursues God. Can’t get enough of Him and His Word. This is where His response meets the heart of the diligent or intimate seeker.
I have found and would like to share some scriptures that will help us focus on our intimate pursuit of Christ and the results from that intimacy.
This intimacy is not infatuation or a crush. You don’t have a crush on God. This intimacy speaks to selflessness. I’m not my own, I’ve been bought with a price. 1 Corinthians 6:20
It’s not the gooey stuff we see on television. This intimacy will cost you. As I have often shared in these messages, the authentic will always cost full price, but the knock off will always have a discount. Intimacy with God has no discount no bargain price. It’s going to require selflessness. This is why some Christians remain on the periphery or fringes of grace. They want the benefits without the full participation. The apostle Paul understood this intimacy. He writes.
This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (read it in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18) he was in it to win it.
Other scriptures that speak to intimacy with God
Psalm 63:1-8
Psalm 62:5-6
Psalm 66:16-20
Psalm 145
Psalm 86:11-13
Psalm 89:1-8
There are many more like these! You can’t say these things about someone who is known casually by you. These words flow from the heart of one who’s intimate with the One being lavished with praise and adoration.
So what is your definition of biblical intimacy? And are you ready to forsake all and cleave only to Him? As the deer panteth after the water so my soul longs for you. Psalm 42:1-2
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant