JANUARY 28, 2025
Topic: “BENEFITS OF INTIMACY WITH GOD – GLORIOUS EXIT”
Text: Genesis 5:21-24
Memory Verse: “And Enoch walked with God (in habitual fellowship) with God; and he was not, for God took him (home with Him” – Genesis 5:24 Amp.
It is the desire of God to have fellowship with man. This informed His coming in the cool of the day to have fellowship with Adam and Eve. Therefore, God is ever ready to enter into an intimate relationship with any man who desires it. Intimacy is a state of having a close relationship with someone. It means closeness or warm familiarity. Intimacy is achieved by spending time and communicating with someone. Intimacy with God is therefore having a close relationship or warm familiarity with God through spending quality time in the place of prayer, in the study of His word and living daily in the consciousness of God’s presence. The life of Enoch is a perfect example of intimacy with God.
In Genesis 5:22, 24 the Bible says that Enoch, after he became the father of Methuselah, walked in habitual fellowship with God for an uninterrupted Three Hundred (300) years. This implies that Enoch knew and experienced the nearness, fellowship and closeness of God. Naturally, when one makes coming close to another a priority, that other person will draw near to him. The same thing applies to our relationship with God. When we make coming close to God a priority, God Himself will draw close to us. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
Enoch’s constant and habitual walk in fellowship with God obviously made him become more like God. This is a benefit of intimate relationship with God. One becomes more like the Master. The more a child of God remains intimate with the Master, the more he/she becomes like the Master. Proverbs 13:20 says, “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” One other divine benefit of intimacy is that God has special concern for and gives attention to anyone who has a close relationship with Him. Such a one becomes the apple of God’s eye. God was so concerned about Enoch that He did not allow his body to see decay. Like Elijah, Enoch was taken away to God’s presence without experiencing death.
The most important divine benefit that one gains by walking with God intimately is eternal union with God. Verse 24 records that Enoch was taken away by God to be with Him. Amplified Bible says that God took him home with Him. Thus, our intimacy with God ushers us into our final glory with God.
Do you desire to become more like God? Do you hunger for the ever presence of God? Do you desire divine attention? Is it a hunger for you to end your Christian race at the feet of the Master? If that is your hunger and desire, then be seriously committed to building a very strong intimacy with God; constantly, habitually and intimately walking with God.
PRAYER: Lord God, give me the grace to habitually and intimately walk with you continually. May nothing hinder me from obtaining the benefits of an intimate walk with you, Amen.