Intimacy with the Upright - TGIF - Today God Is First 8/4

Intimacy with the Upright

August 4

"For the devious are an abomination to the LORD; But He is intimate with the upright" (Prov 3:32 NASU).

It is human nature to want to be included into the inner circle. It means that you are qualified to hear things, experience things and be privy to information the masses are not allowed to see.

Jesus had an inner circle of friends made up of Peter, James and John. John had a very special relationship with Jesus. He was considered to be Jesus' best friend. It was John who recognized Jesus after the crucifixion when He came to them on the seashore. "Then the disciple whom Jesus loved, said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!'"(John 21:7).

The Bible tells us that John's friendship was such that he could even lay his head upon his shoulder at the last supper when he inquired about the betrayer: "So lying thus, close to the breast of Jesus, he said to him, 'Lord, who is it?'" (John 13:25-26 RSV). Almost forty years after the last supper John wrote the final Gospel in A.D. 90,. He was chosen by God to receive "the vision" and record it in the Book of Revelation.

When it came time for Jesus to leave the earth for good, it was Peter, James and John who had the privilege to see the transfiguration. "After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus" (Mark 9:2).

Do you long to have an intimate relationship with your creator? The Lord desires to have the same with you. He does not want you to have a mere form of religion, but a relationship whereby you experience His presence and power. Where you can see God perform His acts of power and love among others.

One of the keys to intimacy is uprightness. Uprightness means we are living a life of obedience and submission to His will in our lives. When we live at this place we enter His inner circle.

Pray for God to make your life upright and intimate with Jesus.

For more from Os Hillman and T.G.I.F., visit todaygodisfirst.com