Cultivate a Life of ImpactУзорак

CULTIVATE INTIMACY WITH GOD

The greatest reward that man could ever be given is restored intimacy with the Father. We are not merely anticipating going to heaven one day, but we get to engage in a personal relationship with God today. Jesus demonstrated such a deep awareness and connection with the Father. The good news is that we can experience that same quality of relationship with the Father through Christ Jesus.

John 10:30 (ESV) describes this quality of relationship –

‘I and the Father are one.’

Jesus wants us to understand that this closeness to the Father gave Him the ability to function in a way that God desires for every human being on earth. In the New Testament God has made His dwelling place in us. He wants us to be aware of our union with Him. There is no more distance and delay. Instead, Christ is the mediator that allows for our access to the Father. He has intimately connected man with God.

Ephesians 2:13 (ESV) makes it so clear –

‘But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.’

This realization changes the way we do life. Like Jesus, it changes how we speak, pray, handle challenges, and engage with people when we live with the awareness of God’s fullness in life.

John 14:10-11 (ESV) explains this –

‘Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.’

This was an incredibly radical statement for Jesus to make at the time. The religious establishment could not accept that a human being could be in relational intimacy with God. Jesus introduces a completely new framework of functioning. He removed every obstacle within His power because the Father longs for an intimate relationship with you.

John 14:16-21 (ESV) tells of this reality –

‘And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.’

Two questions to ask yourself today –

1. How aware are you of this close connection with the God in your life?
2. What are the implications of the fact that He lives within you?

Our prayer –

Father, thank You for not playing hide and seek with us. Thank You Jesus for fully associating yourself and becoming intimately acquainted with our human condition. Thank You Holy Spirit that You delight in abiding within us, resting upon us, and empowering us to do what You want us to do.