“Within the heart of any fellowship, whether individual or corporate, must beat the desire for intimacy, commitment, honesty, and trust. Without them, I am unable to express Myself to the world. Without them, the world will never see Jesus in those through whom I have chosen to express Him. Sad to say, they are missing in most of your dealings with each other and with the world. You gather together wanting to hear the expression of My Word, not knowing that you are to be the expression of My Word. How you act toward one another is the outward expression of the depth of your intimacy with Me. You meet together, not understanding that I have designed that fellowship to present Jesus to one another. The way you treat each other displays your depth of commitment to Me and whether you honor My desire to move in your midst.

"The world observes your behavior and realizes how shallow you are. It observes that you are not honest, even with each other; so it cannot trust the words that you present to them. They fall to the ground in front of your feet, not because they have no potential power, but because their effectiveness is nullified by your actions. Don’t you see that who you are, especially to each other, is more important than what you say? Can’t you understand that what you do, especially to each other, testifies of the work of the cross? All of your religious activity is nullified if you do not love one another.

"Turn your hearts back toward those I have placed in your midst. Your relationships are not complete as far as I am concerned. Your investment in them is vital to Me. Your commitment to those around you indicates the depth of commitment you desire with Me.”

Exodus 33:13-16 NIV

13) “If I have found favor in your eyes, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

14) The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15) Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.

16) How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

Matthew 5:13 AMP

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality) how can its saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men.

You and I are on this earth for two reasons: to know God and to represent Jesus. The more we invest in really knowing God and His heart, the better we will represent Jesus - to each other and to the world. The less we know our God, the less we will function like Jesus in our dealings with each other and with the world. If that doesn’t shake you up, little else will.

Wanting to know God intimately so that I can represent Jesus properly,

Jim Corbett