Are our faces . . . Just Like Jesus?

by Kath

 

These are some thoughts from Max Lucado, in the sixth chapter of his book, Just Like Jesus.....

 

Our face is the most public part of our bodies, covered less than any other area. It is also the most recognizable part of our bodies. We don't fill a school annual with photos of people's feet but rather with photos of faces. God desires to take our faces, this exposed and memorable part of our bodies, and use them to reflect His goodness. Paul writes: "Our faces, then, are not covered. We all show the Lord's glory, and we are being changed to be like Him. This change in us brings ever greater glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (2 Cor 3:18 NCV). God invites us to see His face so He can change ours. He uses our uncovered faces to display His glory. The transformation isn't easy. The sculptor of Mount Rushmore faced a lesser challenge than does God. But our Lord is up to the task. He loves to change the faces of His children. By His fingers, wrinkles of worry are rubbed away. Shadows of shame and doubt become portraits of grace and trust. He relaxes clenched jaws and smoothes furrowed brows. His touch can remove the bags of exhaustion from beneath the eyes and turn tears of despair into tears of peace.

How? Through worship.

We'd expect something more complicated, more demanding. A forty-day fast or the memorization of Leviticus perhaps. No. God's plan is simpler. He changes our faces through worship.

Exactly what is worship? I like King David's definition. "Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together" (Psalm 34:3 NASB). Worship is the act of magnifying God. Enlarging our vision of Him. Stepping into the cockpit to see where He sits and observe how He works. Of course, His size doesn't change, but our perception of Him does. As we draw nearer, He seems larger. Isn't that what we need? A big view of God? Don't we have big problems, big worries, big questions? Of course we do. Hence we need a big view of God.

Worship offers that. How can we sing, "Holy, holy, holy" and not have our vision expanded? Or what about the lines from "It is Well With My Soul"? Can we sing those words and not have our countenance illuminated?

A vibrant, shining face is the mark of one who has stood in God's presence.....

 

 

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