Recently I found a daily devotional at the local Goodwill written by a man named Watchman Nee. He was a Chinese Christian who was martyred for the faith in the early 20th century. I found a theme among his works concerning the beautification of the inner man and found it to go right along with the theme of intimacy with the Lord that I have been dwelling on the last few months.I'm a very practical person. When I learn something in the Word of God, I struggle with it until I can find a way that it may be somehow expressed in everyday life. It's almost as if it isn't mine unless it is expressible or I am able to teach it to another. Brother Nee referenced 1 Peter 3:3,4 which reads:
3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
Intimacy with God is naturally more than the practices of religion which often tend to vanity only. One of the most frequent themes in Christ's teachings were against the outward show of the Pharisee while the inward parts were 'as dead men's bones'. This scripture in 1 Peter speaks this same truth. Let us not have the empty vanity of appearances only, but have a depth of reliance on the Lord that is incorruptible which in turn brings a gentle and quiet spirit. You know who has a gentle and quiet spirit? Individuals whose confidence is unshakable. They need not defend themselves or their pride for it is not abiding in themselves.
Going back to the initial thought on intimacy, in James the Word says "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw night to you". When the follower of Christ seeks to, in the secret place, find God where no man can see them and where no glory can be shed abroad on them for any displays of holiness, the Lord honors in secret this person. In the words of Leonard Ravenhill, when you're alone in prayer and there's no one to observe you, there's no showing off in front of God. You can't use the big words or the bluster of pride. It would be as empty as merely breathing. But when you seek the Lord from the depths of sorrow and appreciation, he says, "you will seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all of your heart". Do you want to know God? Or do you simply want what he can give you? Let us all examine the inner man and pray the Lord reveal our hearts to us.
