Intimacy Starts With God
“In this, the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ”
““As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” ”
Both of these texts were written by John, the beloved disciple. If anyone understood that intimacy starts with God, it was John.
At the last supper, he was the one who rested his head upon Jesus’ chest. He was the one to who Jesus entrusted the visions that would one day become the book of Revelation.
Why did John feel so comfortable resting his head upon Jesus’ chest? Why did Jesus entrust the visions of the book of Revelation to him? Because John was Jesus’ friend. How did he become Jesus’ friend?
He was invited. Jesus invited John to follow Him and become His friend. The same is true for us.
When I discovered that I have been invited into intimacy, it revolutionized my understanding of what it means to pursue intimacy with God. When I first heard a pastor say it, my performance and religious-based perspective on intimacy with God was laid bare. I realized that intimacy with God is not something I achieve. It is something I have been invited into. It is all about God, not me.
We have been invited into intimacy. An intimacy that existed between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit before creation. In John 15:9 (written above), Jesus is saying the same passion and intensity of God’s love for God is how much God loves us.
When we understand this, we no longer strive to be close to God. We simply say yes to the invitation, day by day, month by month, year by year, decade by decade, until one day we meet Him face to face. We realize he is calling us to come to him.
As we continue, begin, or recommit to the journey of abiding daily, it is important to remember that intimacy with God is received, not achieved. It is something that existed between God before creation, and we have been invited into it through Jesus Christ. Intimacy starts with God, not us.
Amen.
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Abiding happens daily in his presence. Abiding Daily is a simple and practical reminder to stay connected to the vine. Each prompt is inspired by the scriptures and designed to point you toward prayer and encounter. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To get the Daily Invitation sent to you every day click this link or text “Daily” to +1 (779) 237-3914.
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Our first devotional book is available for pre-order! Abiding Daily: Volume One is a devotional book including 120 prompts from the Daily Invitation. This book is designed to help believers connect with God through the word and discover more of what it means to abide in Christ. Click here to learn more.
