What does intimacy with God mean?

Hosea 2:16, 19-20“When that day comes,” says the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’ instead of ‘my master.’ . . . I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the Lord.”

God is the source of love, the only one who could create us with the ability to love; thus, he is the ultimate authority on love and intimacy. Intimacy with God means experiencing his love to the fullest and returning that love to him. The love he communicates is completely loyal, trusting, serving, and honest. God created marriage to illustrate what an intimate relationship with him should look like.

1 John 3:1See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children.

God offers an intimate relationship with us—as intimate as husband and wife or parent and child, a forever love relationship without comparison.

Zephaniah 3:17“The Lord your God is living among you. . . . He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

The Lord God, creator of the universe, sings songs about us! What a portrait of a loving, intimate God.

Genesis 28:15“What’s more, I [the Lord] am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”

Exodus 33:14The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you.”

Psalm 23:1-6The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Matthew 28:20“Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

God is with us, as close as we want him to be and as long as we let him, until the end of this life. This is his promise of permanent intimacy with us.