Intimacy With God

Matthew 26:36-38

Transparency is an oft-overlooked element in our growing closer to Jesus
Christ. Intimacy with the Lord requires our full, humble, and honest
openness before
Him.

Jesus Himself was a wonderful model of openness as He dealt with His
disciples. For instance, we read in today's Bible verse that, in the Garden
of Gethsemane,
Jesus shared with the disciples His anguish over His upcoming crucifixion
and brief separation from God the Father.

Knowing that the sins of the entire world were about to be cast upon Him,
Jesus grieved, even to point of near death. Here was God, clothed in human
flesh,
being completely honest, open, and forthright about His emotions. This is
how Christ would have us react to Him.

A proud, arrogant, egotistical, self-sufficient Christianity bristles at the
thought of such transparency. Why should I burden God with this when I can
handle it myself? I'm just not going to deal with God about this. Such
thinking and behavior goes against everything for which God created us.

However, God cherishes and honors a humble, contrite spirit from someone
trying to be himself or herself before the Lord. Confess sin, worry, doubt,
and
fear. He already knows all, but your willingness to intimately share with
Him all the details speaks volumes about the bent of your heart.


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