Intimacy takes place where there is a mutually agreed primacy of desire to draw closer together on a deeper level. It occurs when both parties are mutually vulnerable in their sharing of facts, feelings, and understanding, fueled by transparency, empathy and compassion.
Intimacy Strengthens the Bond between God and Man
Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.(John 15:5-7). God left no stone unturned when it came to His Love for us. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him (John 3:16-17). God showed us what love is and what love does.
Between God
God gave, so we may have. Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life (John 14:6). He is our husband (Isaiah 54:5). His love reaches out in such a caring intimate way that it makes us His own. We are the apple of His eye. God made us a little lower than the angels
and crowned us with glory and honor. He made us rulers over the works of His hands;
He put everything under our feet (Psalm 8:5-6). Jesus gave His life and shed His blood as a sacrifice; a testament of His love between a father and his children, so we will not perish eternally from sin. That's Love. True love. So, It was love that kept Jesus on the Cross. To even begin an intimate relationship with God one must believe; have faith and believe in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the Cross. ".. without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6). Only then do we [whosoever will believe] become the branches to and of Him. Through our continued faith in Him, God helps us to gain an understanding of His love for us. He does this through His Word which we should come into agreement with via God's Holy Spirit. God's Word shares His feelings, empathy and compassion for us. His Word says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). We know how God feels about us through the action He took on giving His own Son [Jesus]; ..the punishment that brought us peace was on Him (Isiah 53:5). Without intimacy with Him there is no relationship with God. We must remain in Him so that He may remain in us. He is our reconciliation, sustenance, source of strength, and nourishment for life eternal. God wants us to love others as well.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. ’There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)
Between Man
God wants us to not only love Him, but love others as well. That is to say, love vertically and horizontally. The love of God and of man cannot be separated. We cannot love one without the other. God's Word says, "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister (1 John 4:20-21, Mark 12:30-31). Love is what Love does.
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