My beloved spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one; come with me.” Song of Solomon 2:10 (NIV)

One definition of intimacy is “a close, familiar, and usually affectionate or loving personal relationship with another person.” (Dictionary.com). The very intent of being intimate with someone requires you to be “close,” to be “familiar,” and to be in “a personal relationship” with them. Therefore, when the Lord invites us to “come with me,” Song of Solomon 2:10 or “come unto me,” Matthew 11:28, it is an intimate gesture/invitation into His personal space. He is calling us to Himself; He is asking us to come near to Him; He is inviting us into an intimate place with Him. A place where we are in His presence, a place where we get to know Him (“learn of me,” Matthew 11:29), become familiar with Him and a place where our relationship with Him grows and develops (“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18).

The very act of intimacy requires us to be alone with the one we are intimate with. It also requires quietness. This alone goes against the mindset of “church” being our “time with God.” Church is our time of fellowship with other believers in the presence of God.  (“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…” Hebrews 10:24-25). However, to spend time with God, we have to be alone with Him. So, when we are in a quiet place, alone with God, mind fixed on Him, we are experiencing intimate time with Him. The more intimate time we spend with God the more of Him we will desire.

During our intimate time with God, He produces in us the fruits that He desires revealed in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23): it produces love; it produces joy (“…you will fill me with joy in your presence…” Psalm 16:11); it produces peace; it produces endurance; it produces kindness… Intimacy with God also produces a steadfast confidence in God, because we have spent time with Him; we have gotten to know Him; we have learned of His ability; and we have learned to trust Him completely.

An invitation for intimacy is a loving, warm and affectionate gesture. What an honor and privilege to be asked into an intimate place with our Lord. Will you answer yes, and come.

“Come!” say the Spirit and the Bride. Whoever hears, echo, “Come!” Is anyone thirsty? Come! All who will, come and drink, drink freely of the Water of Life! Revelation 22:17 (MSG)