In my latest book, “Intimacy with God, Ourselves and Others,” there are many nuggets of truth that God taught me in a deeper way as I attempted to articulate His plan for intimacy in our relationships with Him, others and ourselves. As a result, I am already experiencing a deeper intimacy in my relationship with Him and myself. I, also, believe it will help me go deeper with others.

In this blog, I will briefly share a few of those nuggets. In future blogs, I hope to expand on what God is teaching me about each. I am still learning all that God has to say.

One nugget comes from the story of Adam and Eve. The first thing they did after eating the forbidden fruit was to hide. Hiding is what we do. Often, we do not want people to know what we have done, thought, or said. It may be that we fear judgment or rejection. Or, maybe, we do not want them to see our shame, which is one of the reasons Adam and Eve were hiding. Whatever the reason, hiding is a natural response.

A second nugget is the need for humility to give and receive grace. I could understand humility on the receiving side. We are being given something we do not deserve. We should be humble. When we are on the giving side, though, how does humility play a role? Well, if we are truly extending grace, then we are placing the other person before ourselves. We are considering their need for grace before our own need for judgment (Philippians 2:3, 4). Is not judgment of some form what we desire after someone has sinned against us? Humility foregoes the need for judgment and forgives.

A third nugget, which was the most stinging, was understanding the harm sin causes. Often, the problem we have with something being sinful is that it is enjoyable. How can something that gives such pleasure be bad? We do not see the harm in it. The problem is that we are looking with physical eyes in a physical world. Sin’s worst harm is done in the spiritual realm. It damages our relationships with God, ourselves and often others, if they are involved, even if we do not see it. Sin has spiritual consequences for our relationships. Sin dishonors God, others and ourselves.

I now ask myself if I am hiding when I avoid God and others. I ask myself the role of humility as I try to interact with God and others with grace in mind. I also am more thoughtful of the spiritual consequences of choices I make. If I wonder what is the harm…I now consider the spiritual ramifications. These nuggets have changed some of my choices. What was once a bit innocent is not so much.

I love when God takes us deeper with His lessons. His word and His way are fascinating. There is always room for deeper intimacy with Him. May God bless you with deeper intimacy as you ponder these nuggets of truth.