Emphasis Preaching Journal

Intimate is a word that we use for sexual relations today. We need another word, then, for closeness, the intimate relation of Jesus Christ and his people. When they are afraid, Jesus calls them to courage. When they are "off-track," he calls them back. But even stronger, we use words such as hear, see, taste. We also have breathing in the Spirit of God as an integral, intimate part of our faith. One body, with so many various parts, and all of those parts are enabled and strengthened by one Lord, one food, one Spirit. Intimate? Yes. Integral? Yes. Confidential? Yes.