Day: January 8, 2012

Intimate With Jesus

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Oswald Chambers 90x115by Oswald Chambers

Jesus said to him, ’Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?’ —John 14:9

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?

Delighting In God!

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James Smith 90x115by James Smith

"The Believer’s Companion in Seasons of Affliction and Trouble" 1842

"Delight yourself in the Lord–and He shall give you the desires of your heart!" Psalm 37:4

Delighting in worldly things–effectually prevents our delighting in God. Therefore it is often the case, that the Lord strips us of these things, or incapacitates us to enjoy them–in order to bring us back to delight in Himself.

He delights in His people–and He desires that His people to delight in Him. In order to accomplish this, He has revealed Himself in the most amiable characters, as . . . a Husband; a Friend; a Brother; a Savior; a Shepherd, and so forth–all on purpose to endear Himself to us!

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