The Proof Of Intimacy With God

SUNDAY 23 FEBRUARY, 2025 

TOPIC: The Proof Of Intimacy With God 

SCRIPTURE:  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:8

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: You cannot be close to the God of love and hate the people around you.

It has been established that love is the bedrock of authentic Christianity. To love others is to be like God (1 John 4:8); loving others makes us Christlike. Men who walked with God in Scripture were men who loved God and their fellow men. David was a good example. In 1 Samuel 30:9-20, we read an interesting story about the loving nature of David. David and his mighty men were pursuing an enemy troop that had invaded Ziklag, burnt the city, and taken people captive. As David and his men were pursuing the invaders, they came across an Egyptian in the field who had been abandoned by his master. Instead of continuing the pursuit, David stopped, took the Egyptian, nourished and revived him.

Can you imagine that! David showed the man love, and eventually, the same man became David’s link to the invaders. The question is, what made David leave the pursuit of the Amalekites to attend to an abandoned and stranded man? It was the love of God in his heart for people. This love was developed through David’s closeness to God. The truth is, closeness to God equals love for people. One proof that someone is truly close to God is the overflowing love they have for others. This means that no matter how much a person claims to be close to God, if they harbor deep-seated wrath, hatred, malice, resentment, and unforgiveness, they are not close to God at all. You cannot be close to the God of love and hate the people around you. Beloved, it is important to evaluate your life. Allow the Presence of God to shed His love abroad in your heart.

Remember this: You cannot be close to the God of love and hate the people around you.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Draw near to God to absorb His love life.
2. Let the Love of God in your heart overflow into your genuine love for others.

 PRAYER: Father, I ask that You uproot from my heart any root of malice, hatred and bitterness. I receive the grace to draw closer to you and absorb Your Love nature, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: GROWING IN LOVE

QUOTE: We live in a season of the abundance of iniquity, with the love of many waxing cold.

Culled from the book, “Who Are You?” By Dr Paul Enenche.

 DAILY READING: 1 Samuel 4-7.

AMAZING FACT: A lion’s paws are padded to help them move silently during a hunt.

 PROPHETIC DECLARATION/WORD: The LORD draw you close to Himself in this season and cause His love to overflow through you to others, in Jesus’ Name.