Be intimate with Christ and you will be privileged!

Be intimate with Christ and you will be privileged!

Hello Beloved,

“Now Martha said to Jesus, Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”: this statement was made by both Martha and Mary when they lost their brother Lazarus.  They said it to the Lord Jesus at different moments (John 11:21,32). When Martha complained about the Master’s absence during his brother’s sickness, the Lord just had a conversation with her about the resurrection of the dead and about faith in Him, but He did not attempt to solve the problem. But when Mary said the same thing to Him, Jesus’ response was totally different: when He saw Mary weeping, He groaned in his spirit, and was so moved that He wept (John 11:33,35). Then followed the miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection, four days after his death (John 11:43-44)!

The compassion of Jesus and the miracle of the resurrection were triggered by Mary and not Martha. Why this difference? Indeed, Mary had a more intimate relationship with the Lord! From the very beginning of this story, the Bible underlines how Mary had a very special relationship with the Lord. “It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick”, says the Word of God in John 11:2. The Bible still bears witness to this intimacy in Luke 10:38-42 when it recounts the two sisters’ attitude towards the Master: Martha took care of the house chores in order to serve Jesus but Mary chose instead to listen to the Word at the Master’s feet.

Beloved, you must know that salvation is undeniably free, but intimacy with God is something you earn. In truth God shows no partiality (Acts 10:34).  However, some of His children love Him more than others.  They spend more time with the Father, they show Him more love, more consecration, and a more burning desire to do His will.  So, God calls these people His intimates. He eventually calls them His friends (John 15:15; Psalms 25:14).

Your relationship with your friends in general is different from the relationship you have with the person who is intimate with you, isn’t it? With your intimate friend, you share everything and you can share your secrets with him. The same is true for God. “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing “, God said before revealing to the one He considered a friend His plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:17).

Some Christians are so far from God that they encounter all kinds of difficulties, under the pressure of the world. When they pray, God answers them in small doses. But those who are intimate with God manage to obtain from the Lord things that a normal person could not obtain. Perhaps I might surprise you, but those who are intimate with God sometimes get things even when they are at fault (Genesis 20). For them, God can go so far as to change His decisions, even if they are justified. God is therefore more inclined to show His glory to those who are intimate with Him.  This is exactly what He demonstrated to Mary, Lazarus’ sister.

Are you part of those who are intimate with the Lord? Do you yearn to become an intimate with Christ? Apply yourself to that! Know that the privileges attached to this intimacy are exceptionally advantageous!

May God bless you!

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