"The Simplicity of Intimacy"

The simplicity of intimacy. These were the words that came to my mind as i was walking to Joy's place (to help her with our new dining table that we just bought for our soon-to-be "new" home - so exciting!!!). I'm not too sure why and how these words suddenly appeared in my mind ... (perhaps due to the diverse enigmatic things my mind had been brooding over regarding the very real paradoxes of Christian ministry - something that i may, in time to come, blog on) ... but in any case, it was a word in season for me. Oh, how sweet and soothing these heavenly words were to the ears of my heart!!! :)

Well, i reckon it is part and parcel of life that, inevitably, there will be times where we get bogged down by the doldrums of life and ministry - and it is times such as these that make us stop and wonder what we are all about. Perhaps such times of seemingly somber (and usually melancholic) reflections has its God-ordained purposes - especially in the midst of the potentially hectic pace of life and ministry (even when all is still and nothing seems to be happening ... and you are left wondering whether it is all worth it) - in both the ups and the downs, the highs and the lows of ministry. (*Of course, more often than not, it is the downs - even if it is a "pseudo-down" - that get us thinking ... and that, melancholically.)

And my heart was apparently in such a state when, i believe, the Lord laid this simple yet profound phrase in my heart ~ "The Simplicity of Intimacy" ... and made me ponder over it against the backdrop of all my inner questionings, burdens, discouragements, cares, concerns, confusions, and even thoughts of giving up (which, by God's grace, i don't think i will; it is His grace that has carried me thus far, and it is His grace that will lead me till the end).

And as i ruminated over the divinely inspired words, i found that it resonated deep within my heart. I found myself saying emphatically, "Yes, that's what i want!!! All i want is a simple and intimate life with You - knowing You, loving You, and serving You." Away with all the hustle and bustle of life and ministry (*don't get me wrong - it's not that they are not important!) - but, to put it pictorially using a cake metaphor, if i were to slice away all the 'superficial' layers (i.e. the icing and decorations) of what i do (i.e. my service / ministry), what i hope (and want) to find underneath (i.e. the substance or essence of the cake) is that of a life of simplicity - specifically, the simplicity of intimacy with our personal Lord and Savior. Oh, what a blessed state that would be! :)

Oh, i want to be like Mary of old where she was commended by our Lord for choosing the "better part" - namely, intimacy with Him. I don't want to be sidetracked by the peripheries of life and minstry - for only one thing is needed - the simplicity of intimacy with our Lord and to enjoy His imminent companionship. For, indeed, that's what we were primarily created for - and, as i always teach others, let me preach it to myself - our being always has to precede our doing. And, out of the overflow of our relationship with God and of beholding His glory, splendor and beauty (i.e. our being), i believe our service (i.e. our doing) - that is, proper doing - will naturally follow.

"O Lord, let my life be one that is known for its simplicity in intimacy with you. Let me not be caught up in "serving" You - as if You, the sovereign and omnipotent One, ever needed our "service" (Acts 17: 25). It is only by Your grace that You have given us the privilege of "serving" You - and that, with Your enablement, without which, we can do nothing (John 15: 5). In all our "service", let us never forget that You are the One empowering us (1 Corinthians 15: 10; Philippians 2: 13; Colossians 1: 29). And, after everything has been said and done, only one thing matters - an intimate, living, thriving, and vibrant relationship with You, my Lord and King. Everything else - no matter how noble (ministry included) - is secondary. Oh, grant me a life of simplicity of intimacy with You - so much so that all my cares and concerns in life and ministry fade away - for You are my all in all. Amen."

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way,

he came to a village

where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.

She had a sister called Mary,

who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.

But Martha was distracted

by all the preparations that had to be made.

She came to him and asked,

"Lord, don't you care that my sister

has left me to do the work by myself?

Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered,

"you are worried and upset about many things,

but only one thing is needed.

Mary has chosen what is better,

and it will not be taken away from her.""

- Luke 10: 38-42