One of the questions we have been meditating on in the office is, “What do you believe God wants to help you remove or release in your life that would allow you to more freely experience His abiding love?”  

I am blown away by the words, “God IS love.” How profound. When love, compassion, mercy, humility, and kindness are flowing in my mind and heart, God is present with me. When complaint, bitterness, resentment, fear, judgment, and self-righteousness are flowing in me, I am not near to God because I am not near to love.  

Dad and I would talk about Psalms and the image of God turning His face toward or away from someone. Those who God found to be unrighteous, He turned away His face. Those He blessed, were blessed by Him turning His gaze, His listening ear, His full attention, blessing and love.  

I think about how easy it is to be mistaken. The Pharisees believed they had the blessing and face of God. They believed they were the loved ones, the chosen ones, those who were blessed. Jesus says, they had no idea about God because they had no idea about love. Instead, Jesus turned His face and attention to those who turned their face and attention to Him. This was a radiant exchange.  

I consider this for my life. How can I be deceived like the Pharisees and how can I truly experience the blessed and tender face of Christ? Jesus tells the Pharisees to examine their heart, their inner being which He likens to tombs, full of death. What does an inner life of death look like, what does it sound like or feel like?   

As we turn our face to seek Jesus, to trust Him, our inner hearts and lives overflow with love. 

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory are being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. – 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 

SHARE IT: