Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?” John 14:9a
“Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful. The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.”
Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest reading entitled “Intimate with Jesus” for 7 January.
It is possible to be with people but to lack intimacy with them. With the festivities surrounding our daughter’s wedding, I am seeing many family members and friends that I love but do not know very deeply because I don’t get the privilege of spending much time with them.
The same is true in our walk with Jesus. We can go to church, read the Bible, and be familiar with who He is, but to be intimate with Jesus, to know Him and be known by Him, calls for great commitment of spending time together. We must say ‘no’ to everything else to say ‘yes’ to Him.
What’s your daily office look like? Some call it a quiet time. Others refer to it as going to their prayer closet, sitting in their Jesus chair, or doing daily devotions. Whatever the label, it’s the place where you go to grow in intimacy with Jesus, to know and be known by Him.
In that relationship we are “never lonely and never lack” because in Christ we have everything we need. From there we can live, give, serve, and love generously as we are content and complete. Want to grow in generosity? Deepen your intimacy with Jesus. You will never be lonely and never lack.