Intimacy: To be Alone with God

A father always seeks to have a good relationship with his children.

When God created man, God had many purposes for man and but primarily, it was to fellowship with man. God would come in the cool of the day just to communicate and fellowship with His creation, Adam. This shows the extent to which God really desires fellowship with us, His creation.

Even after the fall of man, God made provision to restore man back to His original plan for them. So, the Father sent his only begotten son, Jesus to reconcile us back to Himself.

To be alone with God
To be alone with God means to be in a close, intimate relationship with God. And this intimacy goes beyond a daily routine of prayer and Bible reading. Intimacy with God should spring from a genuine desire, hunger and love for God and His presence.

Let’s take a look at a scenario that happened between Jesus and His disciples in the book of John 6:68

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

When Jesus was with His disciples and the multitudes that came seeking Him, He told them of Himself being the bread of life, and that He was the manna that came down from Heaven. When Jesus told them of these mysteries, the Bible made us know that some of Jesus’ disciples deserted Him because they couldn’t understand His saying. The reason being that the words were too hard for them to understand.

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” John 6:60 [NIV]

Jesus further explained why they couldn’t accept His saying:

“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from
the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him”. John 6:63-64

The Words of Jesus are Spirit and life.
Apostle Paul further made us understand something important in his first letter to the Corinthian church.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto
him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14 [KJV]

A natural man, someone who doesn’t subject himself to the Spirit of God cannot understand the things of God, just like Jesus’ disciples couldn’t understand because His Words were and are
spiritually discerned.
Perhaps, the other disciples other than the twelve couldn’t understand Jesus’ words because they were following Him for the wrong motives – for material things such as bread (food) – and so when Jesus began to teach heavenly things which was contrary to their earthly desires and
thoughts, they became discouraged, confused and couldn’t understand. Therefore, they left Him.

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. Vs 66

You see, many people are like the other disciples, following Jesus only for His blessings and the beautiful things they can get from Him. Though they follow God genuinely, their motives are wrong. They chase after the affairs of this world, serve God with the mouth but their hearts are
far from Him. Soon enough, they leave after getting what they need or when trials come knocking and the riches of the world come to entice them.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33

When you seek the Lord at all times, prioritize Him above all things and stay with God wholeheartedly to learn at his feet just like his disciples, you will get everything you’d ever need and most importantly have life abundantly and you will be able to say with Simon Peter …Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life…

ALONE WITH GOD
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