[1 John Series 5] Our Love and LifeSample

The joy of intimacy with God

The joy of living out what we believe is that we grow in intimacy with God and He reveals Himself to us. You are not going to find intimacy when you are obedient but have no faith, or when you say you have faith, but you don’t have any obedience. You will only find intimacy through faith and obedience as you get closer and discover more in Him.

What happens now is that we keep the commandments because of our love for Him. We experience His love for us. Now, I am completely surrendered to Him and I am useful for His glory. I trust Him. And He directs me with every single step because I have experienced and seen His faithfulness over time. This makes me a better husband, a better employee, and a better employer. It makes me faithful.

Some folks from our church put this “what I say” and “what I do” together. Words and actions go together. They went to North Carolina on behalf of our church to help with hurricane relief and to clean up houses. They said that one guy was in Home Depot and he didn’t know how to mud-out his home. One of our people just told him how. He and his group had credibility because they were from Houston. Our church member shared Jesus Christ with that guy right there in the aisle at Home Depot and was able to tell him about the love of Jesus that can help you through any disaster.

That team has also been a part of serving thousands of meals to people. It is an awesome thing. We are a part of the body of Christ. We are together as a team. We are praying for them. They are praying for us. They are worshiping God by getting sheetrock out of a house. That is a “say” and a “do” coming together.

They did not go because they had to, nor because it was mandatory. There was no draft. The government didn’t say every church had to send people. They went on their own volition to say, “I want to be there.” Two of the group could say, “I know what it’s like to be in a house just like this.” That is a huge thing. 

Do you know the joy of bringing words and actions together to love Christ by helping others?