Can I Experience Intimacy with Jesus
Can I Experience Intimacy with Jesus?
Intimacy with Jesus? Do we even know what that is? What would it look like? I mean…we say we experience it, but if we don’t…who do we talk to about it? How do we know if we are intimate with Jesus or not?
To experience intimacy with Jesus, we must first understand a few things. So many times, we confuse intimacy with the way we feel or felt when we fell in love; the giddiness that is so fun, but quickly fades. That is not intimacy. We may think that intimacy is a feeling. We believe we are experiencing intimacy when it feels like it. But, intimacy is not a feeling. And lastly, we may confuse intimacy with activity. Going through the motions and hoping we grow to a place of intimacy. Going through the motions is practicing religion and religion does not equal intimacy. Intimacy comes when we have a deep, committed, personal relationship with Jesus.
The best way for us to understand what that might look like is to take a glimpse into the relationship shared between Jesus the Son and God the Heavenly Father. In John 10:30, Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” Intimacy with Jesus means oneness with Him. Oneness – that is a tall order, isn’t it? We struggle to be as one with our spouse, so how in the world do we ever hope to experience intimacy with Jesus? Well, let’s take a closer look at the example we have been given. As we peer into the depths of this special connection, we see that it is built on love and obedience. In love, Jesus came to earth to do His Father’s will. He did not come to do His will or to have His way. He said in John 5:30, “…I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” In the Garden of Gethsemane, He cried out in agony in Luke 22:42, “not My will, but Yours, be done.” In obedience, we see Jesus surrender all and yield His will to His Father.
Intimacy comes when we love Jesus with all our heart and therefore, yield to His will and walk in obedience to Him.
Our deep love for Jesus begins when we recognize that He who knew no sin became sin so that we could have the hope of intimacy with Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Our gratitude propels us to fall in love with Him; how could we not? We, then, prove our love for Him by walking in obedience to Him, just as Jesus walked in obedience to the Father. John 14:15 says, “If you love me, you will keep my commands.” Disobedience can never co-exist with intimacy. “It is our love for Him that will lead us to walk in obedience to Him, and it is our obedience to Him that allows us to fellowship with Him.” (Saved by Grace, Now What?)
Obedience begins with spending time in the Word, with the Living Word and applying the Word in our life. We lay our opinions down and filter our decisions and even our thoughts through the scriptures. We submit to the authority of the Holy Spirit who is alive in us and we become sensitive to His promptings.
Intimacy means we are truly satisfied in the only One who can ever satisfy us – Jesus.
Intimacy means we relinquish our control and experience the joy and peace that comes from trusting Him, no matter the circumstance.
Intimacy means our life becomes all about Him and no longer about ‘me’.
What can you do to take a step closer to real intimacy today?
A Message from Pam:
During June, we are talking about intimacy with Jesus. Don't miss a blog post or a Facebook or Instagram post. Stay connected. (Did you know if you hover over the "like" button on Master What Matters' Facebook page you can click "See First" so that Facebook will show you every post? Do it! It's awesome.
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Do you know Jesus? If you just aren't sure, download the Plan of Salvation and read through the scriptures. I would love to chat with you about it. Feel free to reach out to me.
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