Do you daily seek the face of God? Are you consistently focusing on His presence? Too often, we seek only the hand of God, specifically, what He can do for us. We want the gifts at the expense of the Giver. We even desire forgiveness from Him without forgiving others.
After the accusers of the woman caught in adultery had left the scene: “Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’” (John 8:10). Jesus had been sitting or kneeling when writing in the sand, while the young woman had been standing. Now He stood and spoke directly to her for the first time. Woman was the greatest word of female honor. The significance of Jesus asking this question was that He was communicating she was now free. Jesus brought His face close to hers and like never before, she experienced the presence of God. Just like the hymn says:
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in his wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.”
(Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, Helen H Lemmel, 1922).
God told Moses: “My presence will go with you” (Exodus 33:14). It was the most important factor to lead God’s people from slavery to freedom, and it remains the most significant need for us today, as He navigates us from sin’s bondage to liberty in Christ. Our freedom is for a divine purpose to connect others with Jesus: “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
If you were completely honest, would you say that you desire the presence of Jesus for you to serve Him or for Him to serve you? Daily recognize freedom in Christ as you focus on His presence (Galatians 5:1). Freely forgive others as you have been forgiven. Relish in the presence of Christ in order to know Him and to serve those you encounter, remembering His teaching that apart from Him you can do nothing (John 15:5).
Episode 393: Restoration Theology | Christology: The Study of Christ from mitchkrusetv on Vimeo.