Intimacy with God is Free...But it's not Cheap, by Pastor Charlie Handren

Intimacy with God is Free…But it’s not Cheap

By Pastor Charlie

The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5:1, “Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children.” This is a stunning command. It essentially means, “Learn to be like your Father because you are profoundly loved by your Father.”

I suppose this command would be just like any other were it not for the grandeur and glory of who God is. But given that God is far greater than all persons and things in heaven and on earth, and that he’s far more glorious than each and all, this command is stunning. It’s inviting us to be like the God who saved us. It’s inviting us beyond mere forgiveness into deep relationship. It’s beckoning us beyond outward conformity to the things of God into inward transformation by the love of God. It’s offering us the opportunity to know the deep joy of the holiness that’s born of intimacy with God.

And indeed, this very intimacy was, and is, the aim of the cross of Christ. For the glory of his Father, Christ willingly and gladly offered up his life that whoever believes in him will not perish in their sin but have eternal life. And what is eternal life? According to Jesus, it’s the relational knowledge of God.

“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). Beloved, please take the time to meditate on this truth. Christ willingly and gladly offered up his life that we might have eternal intimacy with God our Father.

This is what Paul has in mind when he says that we are “beloved children.” We are those who believe in Christ because God the Father has lavished his love upon us in Christ. And for this very reason, Paul calls us to imitate him. To be like him. To embrace his heart and emulate his behavior. To take on his character. To know his deep joy.

Whereas God the Father offers us this stunning gift free of charge, I pray that we will understand that it’s not cheap. Christ gave everything that we might have intimacy with God. So let’s honor Christ, let’s show how much we value his sacrifice, by pursuing God the Father with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Let’s nurture our intimacy with him each day “as beloved children.”

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