Peas in a Pod...that's intimacy!

I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. (John 17:23, NLT)

 

God is faithful to me even when I allow circumstance to cause me to be unfaithful to him. It is so easy to get involved in attempting to fix my house (which God provided) and do the work of the pastorate (that God provided) and to neglect my personal devotions (God invited). When I have less than communion with God in Christ, there is no hope for me to have any sense of unity with my Christian family. Hurts and offenses become paramount and I nurse all the reasons I should be able to be “left alone.” When I withdraw, the world cannot see Jesus in me and I negate my purpose for being here.

How blessed is his enduring love that sees to my needs even when I do not see to them myself. I am today reminded of the intimacy of communion we have opportunity to experience with our Savior. It is so easy to “preach” at those who are promiscuous with their bodies, those who do not know the joy of intimacy with a covenant partner and yet be completely hypocritical by being equally promiscuous with my drives and desires for the things of this world. When I long for this world’s “offerings” and reject the call or leading of the Holy Spirit, I miss out on so much.

God calls all of us to far deeper intimacy with him: intimacy that will result in our unity with Him, our spouses, and our spiritual siblings. God originally designed us to experience this sort of intimacy with Him, and then He paid the ultimate price so intimacy could be restored. Jesus sacrificed all to deliver this to us and yet so few ever attempt to enjoy the presence of our Faithful Intimate.

Father, forgive me for I know better–I cannot even claim that “I know not what I do,” for that would be deceit. Help me to long for the freshness of your indwelling each day and to do what is required for that refreshing of intimacy with you so I may be truly intimate with others.