Sometime the concept of "falling in love" with God seems strange. Or combining "intimacy" with our understanding of a relationship with Jesus. Maybe its a new idea, or maybe we really don't have the language to talk about this new life; this new relationship we are called into. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:12, "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." Even our language is limited to a "poor reflection" of this relationship we are called into.
At the same time, "love" and "intimacy" are perfectly appropriate terms to use in trying to paint a picture of God's desire for us and our relationship with Him. If Song of Songs is painting a picture of not only earthly love but of our love for God; and if the church is constantly described as the "bride of Christ," and if the "oneness" of a husband and wife is the picture of Christ and the church, then the closeness we are called to in Christ goes far beyond even "intimacy."
Regardless of the language we use (and don't let whatever we use, put us off) it is important to realize how deeply and longingly God desires us to know Him, spend time with Him, and accept Jesus as the Lord of our lives. He can cause instantaneous changes in any part of all of creation yet He chooses to woo us and give us free choice as to whether or not to know Him. Jesus loves us so deeply that His desire is not to live "with" us, but to live "in" us. This holy love is so unfathomable and all-consuming that we are invited to have as deep of a relationship with persons of the Trinity (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit) as they have with each other. Wow! To begin to get even a minute handle on the immensity of that makes it is easy to see even "intimacy" doesn't begin to describe this relationship. How could we not desire to just immerse our full being in such an invitation?
In spite of this cosmic relationship we are part of in Christ, we often just continue "doing." We're still being Martha -- doing, doing, doing and complaining that our Christian life isn't what it is supposed to be. God doesn't need us to do things for Him. He just wants us to be in Him. HE is the doer! From Him through us, not to Him from us. Make sense? If you've read Gary Chapman's The Five Love Languages (and if you haven't, you should), God's love language is quality time. He speaks them all, but He receives love best in quality time.
Earlier in our married life, my wife and I had two young children at home and at times, Barb was a stay-at-home Mom and some days life was pretty frazzled. One day I came home from work and proceeded to clean, wash dishes, do laundry...to do things for her...all the things I thought she would appreciate. Instead, she saw my efforts as pointing out how inadequate she was at taking care of the house. I thought I was speaking love. It meant absolutely nothing to her. Barb's love language is words of affirmation. Acts of service don't mean anything to her. I'm a quality time person. Any expression of love cloaked in anything other than quality time often floats right past me unrecognized. Isn't God telling us He is exactly the same? Over and over and over He asks us to rest in Him; to let Jesus live His life through us; that sacrifices and efforts mean nothing to Him; "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire...with burnt offerings and sin offerings You were not pleased." Hebrews 10:5-6. Just be.
God's desire is that we recognize, accept, and live in how fully and completely we are loved and accepted by Him and realize how human efforts play no part in any of that. Our relationship with God comes about completely through the death and resurrection of Jesus. His love for us is because, "Your life is now hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:3 At this time, and in this place in our lives, God sees us in eternity. He is not ruled by time and space. He sees you as you are and as you will be. All that was required for the complete overwhelming bounty of His love and acceptance to flow over us, in us, and through us was accomplished in Christ-on-the-cross-and-out-of-the-grave and became an unchangeable truth in our lives when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
All He wants is deeper and deeper love and intimacy. Once we realize that, it is all we will want too.
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