Tag Archives: Jesu

Intimacy, Eternally

1 John 1:1-4

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-…”

This is not boasting, nor arrogance. It is simply a statement of fact. It is simple testimony. True to life experience cannot be denied. It is a witness testimony. John is just telling the truth. “This is what I have seen! This is my experience!” “I have seen God come down to earth!” The Word of Life has been seen by these eyes! That everlasting Word. “In the beginning God Said…” That God, those words, they have been seen. This is the very power of God revealed, spoken, breathed, and He has been known and is being known by man.

“…the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the father and was made manifest to us-”

God is so good to us! He pours out His love, His mercy, His grace. We are drowning in a flood of Gods goodness toward us. Gods eternal life has touched down to a temporal earth. Dying man is coming into contact with the living God. When all is rotting away, God, who is life extends life eternal. And He revealed it in person, that we might touch and taste and see it all for His glory.

Jesus, the breath of God; His voice; His expression was given and manifest to you and I that we might experience for ourselves that God cares for us. God has expressed Himself to you and I in Jesus. He removes our sins. He heals us and feeds us, and sits at our table, and walks these dirty streets. He is not some distant God, but a personal, full of grace God. He is known and we are known by Him! Let that goodness wash over your heart today. Let His personal love and care for you lift your spirit to the heavenlies for just a moment. Taste afresh of His goodness and grace as you ponder this God who sees and knows and cares for you. Let Him touch you once more as you draw near to Him. His desire is that you would come so near to Him that you are truly one with Him. intercoursed by and with Him.

That is fellowship with God. That is koinōnia. Fellowship. it is closeness, commonality, blood bathed in the grace, mercy and forgiveness of the all cleansing blood of Christ! it is oneness that cannot even closely be compared with the physical type. The only dramatic earthly way of painting a picture of how close God wants you to himself that really still does not do justice with Gods heart for you is the closeness between a married man and woman in the act of intercourse. Special, personal, intimate, exclusive oneness. He wants you to be closer than earthly possible. One in the Spirit. He wants you to be closer than earthly possible. One in the Spirit. And His is oneness beyond marriage! Fellowship beyond earth! No wonder you are called His bride. You are special beyond earthly expression; so dear to Gods heart that human words cannot express. That’s why He has placed His Spirit inside of you. That He would bear witness with our spirit that we belong to Him. Take to heart His desire to have fellowship with you my friends. We cannot find a love like this anywhere else. Search no further. Waste no more time. Run into His always outstretched arms and just simply belong there.

“… And indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”

Amen.

May your joy become more and more complete in Him.

Love and Suffering – go hand in hand


2 Corinthians 2:4
“For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have for you.”

Oh what depth of love we might have within ourselves as we conform more and more into the likeness of our Savior – To love as powerful as Christ on the cross. He is bleeding, and yet He is giving life. He is in much anguish and suffering and yet He is experiencing victory for so many souls. He is dying – being poured out, and yet He is vastly in love with those for whom his blood is being spilt. This is love, though it be a strange thing to take in, to grasp. A love that is willing to go through trial and much anguish so that others may experience true joy and everlasting peace.

I wonder how many Christians are missing out on the fullness of knowing their Savior because they are too safe. Too scared to step out in faith or too scared to suffer for the well being of others. I’m not talking about being tortured or spread over a splintery cross. But to be spent: emotionally, physically and spiritually stretched beyond your personal bounds for the sake of others. True men and women of God who change lives and effect eternity for the sake of the gospel suffer in this life while others benefit, and yet because of this suffering, they enjoy pure, perfect joy now and in heaven. No wonder scripture says to us about our Savior: “that for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross…” There is great joy in tears and trial and in sufferings when they are for the purpose of the gospel, the joy of others, and to the glory of God!  You must experience this sort of love in order to scarcely understand it.

“O, Lord, that we might experience you more fully in the fellowship of your sufferings.” Amen