These words were not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus was encouraging Philip to draw closer. Yet the last person we get intimate with is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come: “…I have called you friends…” (John 15:15). True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit.

The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we really know Him?Jesus said, “It is to your advantage that I go away…” (John 16:7). He left that relationship to lead them even closer. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always shown in Scripture to be the visible result of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (see John 15:1-4).

Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful. The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.

________________________________________________________

January 7 2016

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Good morning God. Thank you for the hope and eager enthusiasm for this day. Waking up knowing you are God, and I am surrendered to You leaves me excited and eager to face the day…even though there are tasks, challenges and a number problems to face.

Chambers says, Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. Using our terminology we might say, once we are surrendered and connected to Jesus, we are never lonely and we never lack for love, understanding, compassion, patience, empathy, intelligence, or strength and spiritual power. And like the efficiency experts say, we get all these things, “just in time”; just when they are needed.

And God says…”You have used the term, “peace meter” or dashboard to describe how you might monitor your daily or hour by hour, issue by issue surrender and connection with Jesus. You know you are intimate with Jesus when you can eagerly face the constant demands of life curious and happy to face the day. As Paul says in the Living translation of Philippians4:7, ” If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.”

“The song reminds you that it is right and proper to surrender and just be held by Jesus. He is eager to hold you and give you this day your daily bread; everything you need to find peace right in the middle of life.”