Intimacy with God

The swallow builds her nest, makes her home, there on the altar of God in the Holy of Holies in the Temple of God. This is her chosen place, a safe place and a place to lay her eggs and hatch them out. Her most precious ones, her chicks, her life’s work, she lays it on the altar of God.

It speaks of worship, total surrender and intimacy with God.  She dared to come so close to God and dwell there.  Not dashing in for a quick prayer and then getting on with the day, but staying, dwelling in the constant presence of the Lord.

This is what God wants, desires and longs for. He wants relationship with His people. He made us for relationship, and before the fall God walked in the garden with Adam in the cool of the evening.

‘Simeon was a good, God-fearing man and was waiting for Israel to be saved … Led by the Spirit Simeon went into the Temple. When the parents brought the child, Jesus, into the Temple … Simeon took the child in his arms and gave thanks to God’ (Luke 2:25-28).

‘There was a very old prophet, a widow name Anna … She never left the Temple, day or night she worshipped God, fasting and praying. That very same hour she arrived and gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all’ (Luke 2:36-38).

When Jesus was preparing His disciples for His death and resurrection, He told them that He would not leave them alone but His Father would send One just like Him – the Holy Spirit – who would dwell within them wherever they were (John 14 :16-17).

Unlike Anna, they didn’t have to live in the Temple waiting for one meeting with Jesus, but He lived within them as the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Martha was anxious and worried and busy with preparations, but Mary sat at Jesus feet and listened to Him. Jesus said that it was the only thing that mattered. Mary had chosen intimacy with Jesus and He would not take it away (Luke 10: 29-42).

So let us love, worship and adore Him and be constantly aware of His presence within us and His longing for intimacy with us.