JANUARY 2: “LOSS OF INTIMACY WITH GOD”

I grew up being very close to my mum and I loved her so much. I always wanted to be with her and to make her happy. I tried to obey her instructions, run her every errand quickly and happily, and helped her out with fetching water from the well for her business. These endeared me to her, and everyone could testify to our being very close. Later in life she became very ill, (I was grown up and living very far from her) my siblings told me that anytime they wanted to see her open her eyes and cheer up, they would tell her I was around then she would try and open her eyes to see me. Unfortunately for me, she passed, and I missed her so badly and wept uncontrollably. Therefore, because I always obeyed her and did everything to please her, we had a strong bond.

When God put Adam (mankind) in the Garden of Eden, He gave them His word to govern their relationship with Him and told them that the day they disobeyed that word, they would die. He was not referring to an immediate physical death, but a loss of communion with Him, which is a spiritual death. The serpent (Satan) lured them into disobeying that word and that made them to be embarrassed and afraid when they heard the voice of God in the garden, and they went into hiding from His presence. How could they ever think that they could hide from the All-seeing, All-knowing, and All-present God who made them and placed them in the garden, He also made?

Breaking God’s word is sin, and it negatively affects our intimacy with God because God hates sin, see Isaiah 59:1-3; Ezekiel 18:20. Jesus tells us to obey His word and enjoy His love even as He also obeyed His father and enjoyed the father’s love, John 15:10. He also said the only way we can enjoy being His friends (intimacy) is when we keep His commands, John 15:14. Beloved do not lose this wonderful privilege and blessing of being intimate with God. Be intentional this year about running away from sin by taking heed to the word of God.

PRAYER: Lord, I need you close to me and I want to stay close to you. Please help me to exercise my authority over the sin nature that seeks to separate me from you, Amen.