Closer Than NearbySample

IN-TIMACY 101

Right from the beginning, God knew that we would need a picture to understand. And since the purpose of creating humans was to have an intimate relationship with them, He provided the picture right from the start. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24, ESV). The man and his wife would be so close that they would be “in” each other. That is the blueprint for intimacy with God.

Centuries later, Jesus became the way to get this intimacy with God. Each of us can now have such a close relationship with God that He is in me and I am in Him. “When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you" (John 14:20, NLT). I can hardly think of a more beautiful love letter. “‘I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love” (John 15:9, MSG). But how do we do it?

We find our guide to intimacy with God in the form of another love letter in the Bible. In Psalm 139, David captures a beautiful moment of intimacy with God by writing a love song to Him. He sings about how God knows everything about him and still loves him (v. 5). He allows God to see all of him without feeling ashamed (v. 11). God wants to share moments like these with you too.

Do you struggle with intimacy in your earthly relationships? Does your struggle make it more difficult for you to understand intimacy with God?

Over the next few days, we will examine the building blocks of intimacy with God based on David’s love letter in Psalm 139. We will also look for practical ways to build intimacy with God every day. And I suspect that it may well flow over to your intimate human relationships! “Come close to God, and God will come close to you” (James 4:8, NLT)