IT STARTS WITH INTIMACY!

[Mary R. Johnson]

I often wonder how one is able to spend hours each week attending church services, being involved in ministry activities, have on-going fellowship with other believers, and yet be able to spew venom from their heart without missing a beat, even toward other Christians. I also wonder how it is that so many Christians have become insensitive to the will, the purpose, and the plans of God as are witnessed by their conformity to the world around them. It’s rare these days to find someone who has a sincere burden for the things of God; to go where He says go and to do what He says do. Most folks want the glory but don’t want to live the sold out lifestyle or get down and dirty and ‘sit where someone else sits’ to meet that person where they are to lead them to Christ. There seems to be a disconnect between all those church services and ministry activities and spending consistent, personal, devotional time with God. I know that there are many who know what I’m talking about.

I can spend seven days a week in church and be involved in every ministry activity there is but, if I’m not consistently spending quality time in His Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to teach me, direct me, correct me and use me; if I’m not consistently communing with God, allowing Him to put His thoughts on my mind and on my heart, what have I really done? Whose interest am I really serving? “No one can serve two masters.” (Mat 6:24) If I am not allowing His Spirit to lead me, by default, I’m being led by my flesh. It’s my flesh that would cause me to speak negatively about or judge someone else. It’s my flesh that rules when I submit to its desires instead of the things of God. When I put off spending the necessary time in His Word and in His presence, it’s only natural that I would not have the same passions that He has; it’s only natural that I would not think the same thoughts that He thinks. It’s only natural that I won’t have a sincere desire to walk the walk, although I may talk the talk. Does He not tell us to be the ‘salt of the earth and the light of the world?’ (Mat. 5:13-16) Is there a disconnect between the Body of Christ and the Word of God?

We can’t allow ourselves to be distracted by the things and people around us. God forbid that we should take for granted that He desires to use us to reach this dying world for Himself? The body of Christ has to go above and beyond in its search for intimacy with God. As David said, ‘As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?’ (Psalms 42:1-2 NIV) Without a deep, sincere thirst for God that we are constantly seeking to quench, can we be any different than the people in whom we have been called to reach? When Christ becomes the true passion of our lives it will show by our fruit. That is what the world needs to see. As a result, more souls will be saved, more lives will be changed; the more of ‘me’ will decrease, and the more of Him will increase. It is Christ that the world needs to know. It is us who have been commissioned to go and tell them.
But it all starts with intimacy with Christ. Without that, we can’t help but go the way of the rest of the world.

[johnroy]

Just reading this makes me feel ashamed. We want to do what the bible says do , we want to please the master and yet when it gets right down to it we look ( the church just like the world) Sometimes even in the church.

Thanks for helping me to reflect

Grace and Peace

[Tara Robinson]

Yes my sister this is all true in what you said that has always been my biggest problem with the church acting one way when really your another person inside we need intimacy that is what works. Amen.