1 Corinthians 6:16 – Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”
1 Corinthians 6:17 – But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
After demonstrating that marriage is when two different people become one, Apostle Paul immediately changes the emphasis on unity from the analogy of marriage to our relationship with God. The Apostle had made his point that intimacy leads to oneness whether in adultery or marriage. The closeness that results from intimacy is so serious that two people are now considered one. Then the Apostle tells us that such a unity is also possible with the Lord. Are you this close to Him?
According to Apostle Paul, the closeness that God expects us to have in our relationship with Him, is a closeness such as that of when two become one. God wants an intimate relationship where we become one with Him. This is how God expects us to closely relate with Him. Are you this close to Him?
God is not looking for sensual physical oneness with us as some perverted minds wants to twist things to be. The Bible in 1 Corinthians 6:17 tells us that God seeks an intimate oneness with us in Spirit. The two shall become one in flesh, but in our relationship with God, the two shall become one in Spirit. Are you this close to Him?
God uses the imagery of husband and wife, to describe His relationship with us. God referred to the Old Testament people of Israel as His spouse (Jeremiah 3:1, Hosea 2:2). Jesus who is God the Son, referred to Himself as the husband to the Church His wife (2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:25-33, Revelation 21:2). Therefore if husband and wife must become one flesh, then God and His people must become one in Spirit. This is how close God wants us to be. Are you this close to Him?
In marriage you chose your partner. God wants us to choose Him for He has chosen us. In marriage we live together, God wants to live with us. God’s desire is to live with us (Exodus 25:8, Revelation 21:3). Jesus revealed Himself as Emmanuel which means God with us. Have you chosen God? Do you live with Him? Are you this close to Him?
In marriage you leave your parents in order to attach to your spouse. Jesus left everything in heaven to come search for us ( Philippians 2:5-8). You too can’t be close to Gods without leaving some people and somethings. God expects us to leave completely anything and anyone that doesn’t support our relationship with Him. Have you left? Are you this close to Him?
In marriage you carry your husband’s name. Are we close enough to identify with God? In marriage you are a team working in the interest of each other. God is working in our interest. Are you working in the interest of God? Are you working with God? Are you this close to Him?
In marriage we communicate with each other. God has communicated through the Bible. Are you communicating back through worship and regular prayer? A close couple communicates a lot? Are you this close to Him?
Ezekiel 28:12 – “Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“‘You were the seal of perfection,
full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
The king of Tyre was so close to Satan and satanic ways, that when God spoke through prophet Ezekiel against him, the same words applied to Lucifer who became Satan. The king of Tyre out of bad choices had now become too intimate with Satan that they were synonymous. Whatever was said about Satan was also said about him.
Daniel 10:13 – But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.
The king of Persia is also synonymous with Satan. He became so evil that his actions could be said to be actions of Satan. He was too intimate with Satan that they became synonymous.
Matthew 5:48 – Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Luke 6:36 – Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
1 Peter 1:16 – for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
God wants us to be spiritually intimate with Him until we become like Him. God wants us to be like Him. Close enough to be His representation on earth. There is a song with the following words- “I want to shine, I want to shine, when people see me they see you Jesus…” This is how close we should be. Are you this close to Him?
1 Thessalonians 2:13 – And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.
It is this closeness that caused the Apostles to preach, so that their words were actually not theirs but the word of God. It is this closeness that made Apostles influential. Ministry needs to be influential and of a great impact. Pastoral ministry, Evangelism ministry, singing ministry, teaching ministry, etc., must be effective. Your effectiveness in ministry does not begin with your training, qualifications, talents and being liked by many people. Your effectiveness in ministry begins with your intimate closeness to God. Without this closeness you can’t serve God with impact. Are you this close to Him?
It’s not enough to know church doctrines. It’s not enough to argue all over feeling superior in Bible knowledge. It’s not enough to attend worship and actively participate. God wants us to be one with Him. Spiritually intimate. The two shall become one, we must become spiritually one with God. Are you this close to Him?
Dear God, help us to be this close to You. May we become one spiritually with You. In Jesus’s name, Amen!
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Amen