Gifts of intimacy.
All of chapter 6 in Matthew’s gospel seems to be about God giving to us; it seems to be the key point to the middle part of Jesus’ sermon. We are constantly being reminded of God’s generosity, forgiveness and desire to meet our needs.
"And now about prayer. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.” Matt 6:5-6
Of course there is a time for praying on the street corner but here Jesus is talking about the depth of our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Just as with all relationships, our relationship with God is not formed in the public gaze like some spiritual Celebrity Love Island, it is formed in moments of intimate privacy.
If all of our time with God took place during a conference, or in church services or prayer meetings we may have an intensity about us but not any intimacy. For this essential quality we need to find time to be alone with God.
Sometimes this may seem daunting or even tough, not because of time constraints but because we dislike ourselves in some way; we simply aren’t comfortable with our own company. Or, all we can think about is how we have let God down, and so the thought of being the sole focus of his disapproving gaze would be too much to bear.
We cannot afford to hate ourselves when God has placed such a loving value on us!
I know that I don’t know what you know about yourself but I know that Jesus’ tender hands were pierced by cruel nails out of love [for you] not duty. When I think about that I have to change my view of myself and begin to look at myself from God’s perspective (His true perspective and not our projected one), and this always draws me into privately intimate moments with Him.
When we are alone with God is his face full of judgement? No, it is full of blessing and these not because of our achievements or successes but simply because intimacy brings gifts.
"And now about prayer. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.” Matt 6:5-6
Of course there is a time for praying on the street corner but here Jesus is talking about the depth of our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Just as with all relationships, our relationship with God is not formed in the public gaze like some spiritual Celebrity Love Island, it is formed in moments of intimate privacy.If all of our time with God took place during a conference, or in church services or prayer meetings we may have an intensity about us but not any intimacy. For this essential quality we need to find time to be alone with God.
Sometimes this may seem daunting or even tough, not because of time constraints but because we dislike ourselves in some way; we simply aren’t comfortable with our own company. Or, all we can think about is how we have let God down, and so the thought of being the sole focus of his disapproving gaze would be too much to bear.
We cannot afford to hate ourselves when God has placed such a loving value on us!
I know that I don’t know what you know about yourself but I know that Jesus’ tender hands were pierced by cruel nails out of love [for you] not duty. When I think about that I have to change my view of myself and begin to look at myself from God’s perspective (His true perspective and not our projected one), and this always draws me into privately intimate moments with Him.
When we are alone with God is his face full of judgement? No, it is full of blessing and these not because of our achievements or successes but simply because intimacy brings gifts.
posted by Andrew at 10:11 pm
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