Intimacy With Jesus

Intimacy With Jesus

Category : Lent Devotions

Philippians 3:10-11

10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

While it is rare that someone would fast from all food for 40 days during Lent, we often fast part of the time or we choose to give something up for the entire period. One year I gave up coffee while others I knew gave up sugar and chocolate and others their phone! All in a small effort to identify with Christ in his sufferings and allowing ourselves to be reminded each day of what Christ has done for us as we prepare to celebrate Easter.

Sometimes though, we focus too much on what we are giving up and on what we are denying ourselves (the “suffering”), so that our devotion turns into legalism. I remember punishing myself mentally one year because I could not complete the full period of Lent with what I set out to do. Other times, I had to catch myself when I started to compare myself with others, wondering who had the better “suffering”.

This Lent, I would like to remind us of the true goal of Lent: to grow closer to our loving Savior, to commune with God and develop a greater intimacy with Him. Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 3:10-11.

As we symbolically participate in Christ’s suffering, let us remember to keep our eyes on the goal which is as Paul writes: to know Christ intimately.

The psalmist exhorts us to: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). And James 4:8 tells us “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”.

Ken Gire states it this way: “Before Jesus called the disciples to ministry, He called them to intimacy. Following came first, fishing came later. Before He called them to represent Him, He called them to be with Him. Before He sent them out, He drew them close.”

Are you growing deeper in intimacy with Jesus as you participate in Lenten activities? Or is it other things first and Jesus second? This Lent let’s not focus on what we are giving up, but rather on what we gain in our intimacy with Christ.

Our loving Heavenly Father, may we live in the reality of your amazing, everlasting love, grace and peace for us and may we deepen our walk and our intimacy with you today. Amen.