JANUARY 16: “BENEFITS OF INTIMACY WITH GOD: FRIENDSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP”

Right from the creation of man, the Lord has always desired an intimate relationship with him. Coming down in the cool of the day to relate with Adam and his wife Eve in the Garden of Eden attests to this fact. Though He is God, alone in His class, nevertheless, He seeks a loving relationship with us.

Abraham developed an intimacy with God to the extent that the LORD could visit him physically in the figure of a man. Their relationship grew to the point that God found it difficult to carry out His plan over Sodom and Gomorrah without carrying Abraham along. What a benefit indeed! It was thrilling to hear the Lord say, “Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?” God was not seeking Abraham’s approval to do what He intended to do, but the intimate relationship God had with Abraham was on display.

The Almighty God had to disclose His intention to destroy Sodom to Abraham because of the intimate relationship they had. It was on the premise of intimacy that the all-powerful God who does whatever pleases Him could reveal His intention to a mere mortal. If the Lord had carried out His plans on Sodom and Gomorrah without telling Abraham, he would have considered God’s judgment righteous. However, here we saw the benefit of intimacy. I could sense that the Lord did not want Abraham to query the authenticity of their intimacy over time.

A believer stands in council with God when intimacy is developed. And knowing the will of God and fellowship with Him become very easy and sweeter on the platform of intimacy. Therefore, strive to develop intimacy with God so that you can have access to unlimited divine visitations, revelation and guidance as you journey unto eternity. Interestingly, intimacy is not developed by “wishful thinking”, it is developed by conscious and deliberate steps of obedience to the demands of the Lord and willingness of believers to relate with Him not casually, but intimately and consistently.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to develop deep intimacy with You. Eternal Father, deliver me from anything that will not allow me to develop intimacy with You, Amen.