We struggle sometimes with the notion that we can have an intimate relationship with God. Maybe it’s because He is the creator of the universe…so why or how could He be intimate with us? Maybe it’s because we don’t spend enough time with Him to have an intimate relationship? Maybe it’s just because we don’t trust Him at the end of the day to really be the priority in our lives? Regardless of the reason, the Bible makes it a fact that God is intimate, personal, and more loving towards us than anyone else.
If we remind ourselves of the Gospel each day…that Jesus has forgiven us for all past, present, and future sins, and that we are now righteous in God’s eyes because of what Jesus has done, that is a great start to having an intimate relationship with God. We need to read the Bible and pray regularly with our heavenly Father.
I know those things will produce a closer relationship with Jesus, but I really think most of the time we aren’t intimate with Him is because we just don’t believe He can be intimate with us. We forget what He has really done for us and how He treated people Himself. I believe that if we can remember what Jesus has done and how He loved people, we would believe more often that we really can have an intimate relationship with Christ.
You can have an intimate relationship with Christ regardless of your situation or your sin.
Here are 2 examples of Jesus’ intimacy towards us that we can learn from:
He Took Her By The Hand And Lifted Her Up
“And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.” – Mark 1:29-31
Jesus could have just thought about healing Simon’s mother-in-law, but He didn’t. He could have just predicted this was going to happen while being miles away and healed her in an instant, but He didn’t. He came over to her, took her by the hand, lifted her up, and healed her. Sometimes we are quick to read through Bible passages and miss out on things entirely. I know I’ve been guilty of this many times, and in the past I’ve missed the point here.
Did He heal her? Yes, of course, but I think what’s intriguing to me is the mannerism that He did this. Jesus showed real, personal, love towards Simon’s mother-in-law and went as far as to approach her, take her hand, and lift her up.
Jesus can take your hand and lift you up in a real and personal way. Do you believe this?
He Stretched Out His Hand And Touched Him
“And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.” Mark 1:40-42
Jesus moves to heal this man out of pity…not the pity we normally think of in terms of looking down at someone, but a pity of compassion for him. And He doesn’t just heal any man, He heals a leper. Someone who in that day would just be left to rot and die, Jesus has compassion on Him. Not only that, He stretches out His own hand and touches the leper. This is huge!
With something that is highly contagious, Jesus shows intimacy towards the sick in a way that no other person would ever do.
You can have an intimate relationship with Christ regardless of your situation or your sin. There is nothing too great for Him and no one He won’t draw near to. The only way we can’t be intimate with Jesus is because we choose to not draw near to Him. It’s our choice to separate ourselves from a loving God who clearly isn’t afraid to love anyone and everyone.
Questions: Do you struggle with being intimate with God? Why do you suppose it’s difficult? Do you trust that He is an intimate, loving God? Please comment below and join the discussion.
