"So Close"

Let's continue to look at the life of Jesus to discover who He is. So, far we have looked at His amazing love and generosity. It's amazing, inspiring, and powerful to think that we can't do anything to earn or change God's love for us. How do I know? Romans 5:8 says But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Rest assure as you read this blog...no matter where you are on your journey with God, He loves You!!!!

Today, I want to focus on a different aspect in our relationship with Jesus, intimacy. God's love never changes but our intimacy with Him does. Just because Jesus loves us, doesn't mean we are close to Him.

John 15:9-10--I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. ¹⁰ When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love

Notice some key words in this verse Jesus speaks...
#1--Jesus says that we remain in His love. It doesn't say He withdraws His love. When we turn away from His commands and presence....we start disconnecting from His love and begin to lose intimacy. God's love doesn't change but intimacy does.

#2--When we obey His commands...we remain in close connection/intimacy in relationship with Him.

If you examine the context (the entire chapter it was written in) you see that staying connected to the vine (Jesus) gives us life and allows our lives to bare fruit.

The greatest cause of lack of intimacy in our relationship with Christ is not spending time in His presence on our own. Not staying connected to the Vine! We often justify it for many reasons...I'm too busy, too tired, don't know how to pray, don't understand the Bible, or I feel intimidated. Even though these are all real challenges and issues we face, if not addressed, we begin to lose intimacy.

Just like a marriage relationship will begin to fall apart and lose intimacy if the couple doesn't spend time together, we begin to lose intimacy with Christ if we aren't spending time with Him.

It's possible to be close to Christ! It's possible to know His voice and remain in His love. It's possible to be "so close" to the creator of the universe.

Questions of the day:
1. On a scale 1-10 how much are you aware of the unchanging love of God?
2. On a scale 1-10 how closely connected/intimate is your relationship with God?
3. What is one thing you can do this week to pursue Him and remain in His love?