Introductory Thought:
“A major source of emotional pain is lack of intimacy with God. Alienation from the love of God is a basic human problem. Reconciliation to God along with restoration of his love and acceptance is the only complete answer. People develop a true sense of identity when they realize that God loves them unconditionally. People who find their identity in a loving relationship with God do not have to depend on others to establish their self-identity.”
– Meier
My Response:
As I’ve focused on worship and joy the past couple weeks it’s also lead into the topic of intimacy with God. Intimacy with God is the most important thing in life. Joy and worship spring out from intimacy but I think they also lead to intimacy as well. Intimacy is defined as a close familiarity or friendship; closeness. Basically a personal, deep, and enjoyable relationship.
God’s whole purpose of creating man was for this kind of relationship. He wanted us to enjoy Him and glorify Him; that is only truly and authentically accomplished in intimate relationship. God calls me His bride. More often I feel like His humble and lowly (but honored) servant, seeking to do His will and live righteously before Him so that I might enjoy His favor. But how could I, one so ordinary and lowly, intimately love such a lovely Being? I deserve nothing of the sort. Intimacy is about a deep knowledge and passionate love; how could I in my imperfection ever love God intimately?
I believe the first step in growing intimate with God is realizing His own intimacy for me. Psalm 139 is one of my favorite passages in the whole Bible. It says that God knows my every thought; my every motive; my every desire. God is always with me. Always. God made me and is shaping me perfectly according to the plan He wrote for me before the beginning of time. God is always thinking of me. Before I can experience true intimacy with God I need to genuinely understand and revel in these wonderful truths. This is not the way one thinks of or treats a servant; this is the way one thinks of and treats a bride. (I am God’s servant; but so much more so I am His bride.)
INTIMACY IN THE BOOK OF JOB
The book of Job is a beautiful yet painful story of intimacy between Job and God. The story starts by describing Job; a man of utmost integrity and faithfulness to God; a man God describes as utterly blameless. God brings Job and his righteousness and uniqueness to Satan’s attention. Satan cynically claims that Job only loves God because of all the good things God has given him. Satan claims that God can only cause men to worship Him by bribing them with good things. Satan claims that if God allows him to inflict suffering on Job then Job will surely end the relationship and curse God. God, knowing Job’s integrity and intimacy, allows Satan to go and inflict Job; Job loses everything but his life.
Hearing of his loss three of Job’s friends come to him. They begin to condemn Job telling him to repent. Job knows his integrity though and won’t repent for something he didn’t do. In an article by Michael D. Fiorello, titled Aspects of Intimacy with God in the Book of Job he describes the theological disposition of the friends: “ [Their] theological presuppositions led them to conclude that God accepts people on the basis of performance. In other words, God accepts those who function according to a strict regulatory methodology and rejects those who do not. This form of relationship is superficial. One’s attention is always focused on the quality or quantity of one’s activities rather than on God, and as such is centered on self. Through a quid pro quo relationship, one attempts to buy God’s favor with conduct. … By encouraging Job to repent so as to restore his health and wealth, Job’s friends were reaffirming Satan’s point that no man serves God for who He is but only for what He gives” (Journal of Spiritual Formation & Soul Care 168).Throughout the story Job responds to his friends and cries out to God. He is in turmoil because he believes that his suffering means there has been a breach in his relationship with God which he has treasured and nurtured. Throughout his cries, he is much more concerned about his relationship with God than his former blessings being restored.
MY OWN INTIMACY WITH GOD
This convicts me. God has blessed me with so so much: a loving family; citizenship in a safe and free country; more than enough food; a happy and safe upbringing in the knowledge of Him; financial resources greater than most of the world; ceaseless comforts and entertainments; not to mention all of the spiritual blessings I have been granted and given through Jesus Christ. All of these things are so so good but Satan can use them as a distraction or as a means to nurture my own selfishness. Am I more concerned about my relationship with God or with what my relationship with God grants me? I must not let my love for God’s gifts ever compare to my love for God.
I love and worship God and want to grow in intimacy with Him. But why?I want it to be for the reason that God is God; He is Creator; He is love and loves; and simply for that reason He is worthy of everything I have to offer. Regardless of my circumstances He is holy, holy, holy; God Almighty; who was, and is, and is to come; Creator of all things. He is intrinsically love-able because of who He is. I am learning to nurture a relationship with God that is ever focused on God Himself rather than what He has done for me or has given me. That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be thankful and give praise to God for what He’s done for me but those things shouldn’t be why I give praise. I should praise because God loves me enough to give me those things. But whether those things are present or not, God’s love is the same.
Near the end of his article, Fiorello concludes: “The book of Job demonstrates that Christians can have an intimate relationship with God, but that relationship cannot simply be construed as a Utopian experience. Neither is it wrought from the mechanical performance of obligations, which are, in the end, superficial. In a loving relationship with God there is pain. Sometimes that pain is the result of his discipline or a component of his essential transformative processes at work in the individual. Or it can be a result of the most radical intimacy, by which… he wants love and faith to shine forth demonstrating to the world what genuine intimacy looks like when subjected to the crucible” (Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care 184).
I often find myself thinking “Who can understand God?” There is so much I could never comprehend; but there is also so much God has revealed. We can know that all suffering is for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28 and Hebrews 12:10-11); we can know that suffering produces maturity and perfection (1 Peter 1:6-7 and James 1:2-4); we can know that all suffering will be incomparably surpassed by the goodness to come (Romans 8:18); we can know that all suffering we face does not remove us from God’s intimate love for us (Romans 8:31-39).
After going through his suffering Job’s faith was strengthened; he had a deeper understanding of his own endurance and integrity; he had a deeper understanding of God’s faithfulness, justice, and love. Through his ordeal it was revealed to Job that intimacy with God is not dependent on “blessings” of this life; God’s intimate love relationship with him is constant and unchanging forever.
As I continue to go throughout the Race and throughout life I want to rest in the assurance that Job had by the end of his ordeal; God’s love for Him is ever faithful. I want to live a life of worship and intimacy with the Lord no matter my circumstances. God has always been, always is, and always will be a God of infinite intimate love for me. Whether I feel that love or not, God is always here with me and His love remains sure. As I meditate on the God who calls me His bride my own intimate love for God cannot help but sprout and grow. I cannot look on God and remain unchanged. His glory and splendor are unmatched and He calls me into unity with Him; He calls me His bride. How could I refuse?
“We cannot look at the sun, for it shines brightly in the sky when the wind clears away the clouds. So also, golden splendor comes from the mountain of God. He is clothed in dazzling splendor.” – Job 37:21-22
“Holy holy holy
Is the LORD, God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of kings
You are my everything
And I will adore you.”
– Revelation Song by Jesus Culture
