ByIn Christ, salvation is free and available for all people (see Titus 2:11). However, how much a believer will know God depends on how much he pursues a deeper intimacy with Him. That is why some Christians know God more than others, even in the same church.
God desires each of His children to know Him intimately. But it isn’t usually the case in many lives. So to help us pursue a deeper intimacy with God, He, through the Holy Spirit, led Apostle James to write a solution to it in his epistle to the churches, which is now available to us. Let’s read it:
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
James 4:8 NKJV (Boldface mine)
My concern is on the first part of the verse: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” It’s a short statement but very powerful. Regardless, its interpretation requires careful attention.
Let Grace assume responsibility for building a deeper intimacy with God
Have you heard people quote this scripture and point out that it’s your sole work to pursue a deeper intimacy with God? I’ve heard it before. And I’m against it because it’s a half-truth.
The Bible doesn’t just say, “Draw near to God.” No! He adds, “… and He will draw near to you.” That means it’s your duty to initiate the first step to draw near to God. But it’s God’s duty to approach you also, just as you attempt it. How? By nourishing you spiritually with revelations and unveiling mysteries you never knew of in the Word and any way He speaks to you.
Once grace takes responsibility for your development of a deeper intimacy with God, then comes the spirit of wisdom to show you how to structure your life to make time to be with the Lord.
God is responsible for showing you all the revelations you need as you draw near to Him. Nevertheless, you are responsible for making time with Him.
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Deep calls unto deep
David, the only man God said, he’s a man after my own heart, said deep call unto deep at the noise of God’s waterfalls (see Psalm 42:7). In other words, God has extended His invitation to know Him deeper to all manner of people. But the response is based on them, including you and me.
God has never been far from us. In fact, if you’re His child, He’s in you (see 2 Corinthians 13:5, 1 John 4:4 and Romans 8:9), and as such, He’s always available to you. But the question is, “What level of intimacy have you reached in the knowledge of Him?”
God is a Spirit
God is a Spirit (see John 4:24). So anybody who wants to know Him must delve deeper in the Spirit realm. Aside from that, God is responsible for showing you all the revelations you need as you draw near to Him. Nevertheless, you are responsible for making time with Him. When you fellowship with Him, consistency in keeping with it is pivotal. And for that, I’d urge you to pray for divine wisdom to stand and maintain it.
Let’s now move on to ways you can implement to draw near to God.
Prayer is a fuel for deepening your communication with the Lord. And the more you commune with Him, the deeper you’ll get to know Him.
a. Pray persistently
Jesus described a parable in Luke 18:1-8 about a woman who desired justice from an ungodly judge. He taught it and related it to prayer. And that is how He explained why men ought always to pray and not to faint (see Luke 18:1).
The woman was only persistent in going to the judge because of her want. In relation to pursuing a deeper intimacy with the Lord, it’s just like consistently asking God that you want to know Him better and that you’re not satisfied with your current state of intimacy with Him.
Prayer is a fuel for deepening your communication with the Lord. And the more you commune with Him, the deeper you’ll get to know Him.
b. Study the Word consistently
In 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV), Paul told Timothy, a young pastor at the time of the epistle’s writing, that
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Paul was old when writing this. He had studied many books to build His intimacy with the Lord. So he knew how to help Timothy to get to his level of divine fellowship, of which studying is one.
Indeed, he didn’t specifically say, “Study the Bible.” Because, at that time, the Bible hadn’t gotten compiled together as it is today. But now, we have the Bible and all the Christian books we can think of. The availability of these resources isn’t the problem. But taking advantage of them to know God better is for your good.
I urge you to have time for the Word. Don’t just go to church to hear God’s Word. Spend time studying the Bible, and you’ll be shocked by the many mysteries God will reveal about Himself to you that you didn’t know. That is how you call upon the Lord (see Jeremiah 33:3).
From today, endeavour to know God better. He will never leave you.
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