In this month’s blog, I want to share with you three specific miracles that come out of intimacy with Jesus. And I want you to hear His invitation at the start: He said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone opens the door, I will come in to dine with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).
This is not a relationship based upon a religion of rules and regulations. He wants to share with you a relationship of love, communion, faith, joy, and quite frankly, fun! God is the Creator of fun. He is the Author of joy. Psalm 16:11 says, “You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”
Can you open your heart up to understand that Jesus DESIRES you?
We find a beautiful picture of His desire in Luke 19. It’s Jesus’ encounter with a man named Zacchaeus. You remember the story: Jesus was passing through Jericho and as crowds assembled. Zacchaeus, a man of shorter stature, climbed up in a tree to see Jesus. “And when Jesus came to the place,” the text reads, “he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today’” (v. 5).
Think of the impact this had on Zacchaeus: Jesus saw him, called him by name, and desired to spend time with him. The onlookers had no use for him, but the One who matters most accepted him! His neighbors thought of him as worthless, yet Jesus found him worthy of intimate fellowship!
- The first miracle of intimacy is that it changed Zacchaeus’ relationship with himself.
We read, “So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully” (v. 6). Another version says happily. Still another says with gladness. For the first time, Zacchaeus was happy with himself because he feels Jesus’ approval. Remember, he was a tax collector. Everyone despised him. And most likely he despised himself too. But because of Jesus’ personal invitation, it changed his relationship with himself.
What a change! The grumpy old tax collector was now full of joy… in the presence of Jesus!
The first miracle of Intimacy with Jesus changes our emotions and how we feel about ourselves. I trust that this alone is a word for you! Hurry and come!
- The second miracle of intimacy is that it changed Zacchaeus’ relationship with others.
Jesus’ visit softened Zacchaeus’ heart toward other people. Remember, as a tax collector, he was taking from others and lining his pockets at their expense. We read, “And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold’” (v. 8).
Zacchaeus had seen his neighbors as people to be taken advantage of—to use for his own benefit. But now he was looking at his neighbors differently: unselfishly and charitably. He was looking at others the way Jesus looks at them. He was not only going to repay what he’d taken, but give back fourfold! Wow! What a change! And this reveals a third miracle.
- The third miracle of intimacy is that it changed Zacchaeus’ relationship with money.
In the commitment to pledge half his money to the poor and to repay his obligations to others fourfold, we see that a man who had made gathering wealth a priority, now has a completely new perspective—all that he has belongs to the Lord! This is a sure sign of an intimacy-touched life: holding on to Jesus tightly and holding on to things loosely. He’s willing to trust in the Lord’s provision and he’s desiring to bless others. This exchange—this intimacy—this exchange of closeness with Jesus—affects every other relationship in our lives.
So, what can we do to develop this intimacy with Jesus? Lean into your relationship with Him, hear His call, and respond like Zacchaeus. He welcomed Jesus into his home and heart with joy, and experienced the three miracles of intimacy with Jesus.
If you would like to hear more on this life-changing topic, click here for my entire teaching, “Intimacy with Jesus.” This practical and empowering collection will teach you how to sit at the feet of Jesus and lean into God’s ever-present, unconditional love for you.