Topic: THE IMPORTANCE OF INTIMACY – Bishop Mike Okonkwo Devotional 16 November 2021 [The Redeemed Evangelical Mission]

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THE IMPORTANCE OF INTIMACY

“And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” Matthew 14:28 KJV

Child of God, we understand from the scripture in Matthew 14:22 that Peter was not the only disciple in the boat. But then, how come Peter was the only disciple who asked Jesus to call him out to walk on water? The other disciples had the same opportunity. So, what was it about Peter that gave him the boldness to make this request? I believe that Peter was able to make this request because of the type of intimacy he had with Jesus.

Beloved, the level of intimacy and quality of relationship Peter had with Jesus was the premise upon which he was able to make such a demand as walking on water to meet Jesus, not minding the raging storms and tossing billows. Therefore, because of Peter’s intimacy with Jesus, he had the boldness to make demands that others didn’t dare make. Intimacy with Jesus always produces boldness.

Also Read: Open Heaven 16 November 2021 –Topic: EQUIPPED TO SERVE 

I want to point an important part of Peter’s demand to Jesus: Peter’s request was not primarily to walk on water, even though that was the context wherein Jesus was at the time. His primary objective was that Jesus would call him to Himself. Walking on water was secondary- It was the consequence of being drawn to Jesus.

Jesus first calls us to Himself before anything else. Every pursuit and every desire for growth and advancement in life must be such that draws us closer to Jesus. This is why I cannot understand it when believers willfully engage in activities, whether in life, career or businesses, that strain their relationship with the Lord, instead of enhancing it. What we fail to understand is that our intimacy with Jesus is what empowers us to do things that men term as impossible! Peter understood the power of being intimate with the Lord. He knew that as long as he desired to get closer to Jesus, no challenge was insurmountable.

Further Reading: Mark 3:14, Matthew 14:22-33

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Ezekiel 3-4; Evening- Hebrews 11:20-40