Reflecting God's Presence Through Our Faces
Summary
In today's reflection, we delve into the profound concept of living life with God, drawing from the rich insights of the Gospel of John. The opening verses of John introduce us to the Word, which is Jesus Christ, who was with God and was God. This Word became flesh and dwelt among us, embodying the divine presence in human form. This idea of God choosing to dwell in the ordinary, in the flesh, is a powerful reminder of His desire to be with us, to be present in our lives.
Our faces, as discussed, are not just physical features but are reflections of our inner lives. They communicate our emotions, our state of being, and ultimately, our relationship with God. Proverbs tells us that a joyful heart makes a happy face, emphasizing that our outer expressions are deeply connected to our inner spiritual state. Jesus, in His teachings, highlighted the importance of being the light of the world, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. Our faces, therefore, should reflect the light and presence of God within us.
The Bible speaks of the face of God as a metaphor for His presence. Although God does not have a physical form, His presence is real and knowable. This is beautifully illustrated in the story of Jacob, who wrestled with God and named the place Peniel, meaning "the face of God." Similarly, Moses met with God face to face, as one would with a friend. These encounters remind us that God desires a personal relationship with us, one where His presence is as real and tangible as a face-to-face meeting.
In our daily lives, we are called to recognize the face of God in the world around us, in the beauty of creation, and in the faces of others. Jesus taught that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him. This is the essence of the Incarnation, where the Word became flesh and continues to express Himself through us. We are never alone, for God is with us, and His presence is made known through our interactions with others.
Key Takeaways:
- Our faces are a reflection of our inner spiritual state. A joyful heart leads to a joyful countenance, and as followers of Christ, we are called to let our faces reflect the light and presence of God within us. [03:13]
- The face of God is a metaphor for His presence, which is real and knowable. Just as Jacob and Moses encountered God face to face, we too can experience His presence in our lives. [08:00]
- Jesus came to reveal the Father to us, bridging the gap of trust and understanding. In knowing Jesus, we come to know the Father, and this relationship transforms our inner and outer lives. [09:37]
- We are called to see the face of God in others, especially in those whom the world dismisses. Our interactions with others are opportunities to encounter the divine and express God's love. [10:40]
- God desires to be our friend, not a distant or disapproving figure. Through Jesus, we know God's face and His loving presence, inviting us into a deep and personal relationship with Him. [11:52]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:28] - Introduction to Life with God
[00:42] - The Word Became Flesh
[01:00] - God Dwelling Among Us
[01:44] - The Significance of Our Faces
[02:13] - Faces Reflecting Inner Life
[03:28] - Light of the World
[04:29] - The Face We Deserve
[05:17] - Impact of Our Faces on Others
[06:10] - Beyond Face Management
[06:43] - The Face and Presence of God
[07:40] - Biblical Encounters with God's Face
[08:36] - Knowing the Face of Christ
[09:22] - Spiritual Face Blindness
[10:53] - The Incarnation and Seeing God in Others
[11:35] - Friendship with God
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. John 1:1-14
2. Proverbs 15:13
3. Exodus 33:11
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Observation Questions:
1. According to John 1:1-14, how is Jesus described in relation to God, and what significant event does this passage highlight about Jesus? [00:42]
2. In Proverbs 15:13, what is the relationship between a joyful heart and a person's face? How does this connect to the sermon’s message about our faces reflecting our inner spiritual state? [03:13]
3. How does the story of Jacob wrestling with God in Genesis 32:30 relate to the concept of encountering the "face of God"? [08:00]
4. What does Exodus 33:11 reveal about the nature of Moses' relationship with God, and how does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on personal encounters with God? [08:00]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the idea of Jesus as the Word becoming flesh challenge or deepen one's understanding of God's desire to be present in our lives? [01:00]
2. What might it mean for a person's face to reflect the light and presence of God, as discussed in the sermon? How can this be observed in daily life? [03:28]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that recognizing the face of God in others can transform our interactions and relationships? [10:40]
4. How does the sermon’s portrayal of God as a friend, rather than a distant figure, influence one's perception of their relationship with God? [11:52]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own facial expressions throughout the day. How do they align with your inner spiritual state, and what steps can you take to ensure they reflect the joy and presence of God? [03:13]
2. Consider a time when you felt God's presence in a tangible way. How did this experience impact your faith, and how can you seek similar encounters in your daily life? [08:00]
3. Identify someone in your life who might be considered "the least of these." How can you intentionally show them the love and presence of God this week? [10:40]
4. Think about your current relationship with God. How does viewing God as a friend change the way you approach prayer and daily interactions with Him? [11:52]
5. What practical steps can you take to recognize and appreciate the face of God in the beauty of creation and in the people you encounter each day? [10:23]
6. How can you cultivate a joyful heart that naturally leads to a joyful countenance, especially in challenging situations? [03:13]
7. Reflect on a recent interaction where you may not have reflected God's light. What could you do differently next time to ensure your presence is a positive reflection of your faith? [05:29]
Devotional
Day 1: Reflecting God's Light Through Our Faces
Our faces are more than just physical features; they are mirrors of our inner spiritual state. A joyful heart, as Proverbs suggests, naturally leads to a joyful countenance. As followers of Christ, we are called to let our faces reflect the light and presence of God within us. This means that our expressions should not only convey our emotions but also the divine joy and peace that come from a relationship with God. By doing so, we become beacons of His light in a world that often feels dark and heavy. [03:13]
"Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed." (Psalm 34:5, ESV)
Reflection: Consider how your facial expressions today can reflect the joy and peace of God to those around you. What practical steps can you take to ensure your face is a reflection of your inner spiritual state?
Day 2: Experiencing God's Presence
The face of God is a metaphor for His presence, which is real and knowable. Just as Jacob and Moses encountered God face to face, we too can experience His presence in our lives. These biblical encounters remind us that God desires a personal relationship with us, one where His presence is as real and tangible as a face-to-face meeting. In our daily lives, we are invited to seek and recognize His presence, knowing that He is always near and ready to engage with us. [08:00]
"And the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend." (Exodus 33:11, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you intentionally seek God's presence today? How can you create moments in your day to experience Him as you would in a face-to-face conversation?
Day 3: Knowing the Father Through Jesus
Jesus came to reveal the Father to us, bridging the gap of trust and understanding. In knowing Jesus, we come to know the Father, and this relationship transforms our inner and outer lives. Through Jesus, we gain insight into the character and heart of God, which in turn shapes how we live and interact with the world. This transformative relationship invites us to live in a way that reflects the love and grace of the Father. [09:37]
"Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?" (John 14:9, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your relationship with Jesus. How does knowing Him help you understand and relate to God the Father? What changes might you need to make to deepen this relationship?
Day 4: Seeing God in Others
We are called to see the face of God in others, especially in those whom the world dismisses. Our interactions with others are opportunities to encounter the divine and express God's love. Jesus taught that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him. This perspective challenges us to look beyond the surface and recognize the inherent value and dignity in every person we meet. [10:40]
"Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." (Matthew 25:40, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is often overlooked or marginalized. How can you intentionally show them the love and presence of God today?
Day 5: Friendship with God
God desires to be our friend, not a distant or disapproving figure. Through Jesus, we know God's face and His loving presence, inviting us into a deep and personal relationship with Him. This friendship with God is characterized by trust, intimacy, and mutual love, transforming how we view ourselves and the world around us. Embracing this friendship means living in the assurance of His constant presence and unwavering love. [11:52]
"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:15, ESV)
Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper friendship with God today? What specific actions can you take to nurture this relationship and experience His presence more fully in your life?
Quotes
"we're talking about with life with God this is so rich from the Gospel of John in the beginning was the word and the word we'll talk more about the word through this series but here it's referring to Jesus Christ the word was with God and the Word was God and then John goes on to say that the word became flesh God came to be with us and dwelt Among Us he uses the word here that was used actually for the Tabernacle to tent someplace to Tabernacle or camp out there was uh one very wise interpret of the Old Testament said uh Tabernacle is kind of a tacky little place honestly but God was content to be in it and now God comes to just an ordinary body ordinary flesh and yet God dwells in him" [00:32:34]
"you know we actually have a a duty and obligation to carry into the world a face that is optimistic and cheerful and has joy and is friendly and is open and is curious that's always true for us when we're kids and our parents come home how their faces look makes a huge difference that we sometimes when I'm walking uh in a crowd or at an airport or some public place and look at people and their faces especially if they are alone especially if they are alone you are never alone their faces look drawn worried anxious Haggard upset and that can be true for me also" [00:17:54]
"in Proverbs it says a joyful heart makes a happy face or a happy countenance in other words part of what's remarkable about a face one of God's Great Inventions is it is a public outward expression of our inner life of our presence and Jesus would talk about this sometimes he said uh in The Sermon on the Mount you are the light of the world a city set on a hill cannot be hid and then he talks about how our life will reveal what is in us and can reveal light inside of us but just like you can't hide a city that's up on a hill you cannot ultimately hide or disguise or use your face to keep other people from knowing what's inside it will kind of come out" [00:30:39]
"the Bible also talks about the face of God and now of course God doesn't have a body but the idea is that God has a presence and God wants to be known God wants to be seen and we all have a deeper presence in that Way Dallas Willard talks about how you might remember if you know the story on the Mount of transfiguration when the disciples see Elijah and Moses they immediately know who they are how did they know because they've never seen their physical faces before but we have a presence everybody does you do and that presence is knowable and that is part of the idea of a face" [00:42:25]
"Jacob when he met with God and wrestled with him and ask God to bless them to bless is to have God's face to shine upon you Jacob call that place pineal the face of God for I have seen the face of God and lived or Exodus 33 it says Moses met with God face to face as one would talk with a friend no one has ever seen God but Jesus has made him known this is a remarkable statement in second Corinthians 4 verse 6 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 God's glory displayed in the face of Christ" [00:46:48]
"the great problem of life that goes all the way back to the fall all the way back to the serpent saying to Eve did God really say you cannot trust God to take care of you it was bad theology at its core it's a failure to know God I can't really trust that God will take care of me I can't abandon myself to him fully he is the kind of person that I cannot really trust and Jesus says no no no no no no no no no no he came so that we could know the father" [00:49:29]
"you can see the face of God you can know God because you are not alone so as you walk through this day allow your mind to go to the Gospels and just simply that thought in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the word became flesh and we beheld his glory in the story of Jesus's birth and death and Resurrection you see the face of God in the beauty of the Earth because God created it it was created by the word you see the face of God" [00:58:57]
"one of the primary ways that God wants to be known is through other people he speaks to us through each other so today as you walk through your day and you see the face of other people just think Jesus actually said whatever you do for the least of these when you people see people that our world is most apt to dismiss you do it for me there he is there he is there he is there he is this is the Incarnation the word has become flesh he expresses himself all the time you are never alone tell your face would you" [01:01:48]
"to see God to see the face of God is to be a friend of God God wants to be your friend you do not have to worry that God might be disapproving or severe or distant or mean we know his face no one has seen God but Jesus Christ has made him known tell your face" [01:09:12]
"our faces have a way of giving us away a city set on a hill how's your face what's going on in your face right now and by the way smile right now because you are not alone George Orwell the final words that he wrote in his journal before he died were by the time a man is 50 he has the face he deserves and the idea behind that is that we'll have an inner life we have thoughts feelings convictions desires fears confidence ease and that shows in our face how's your face" [00:43:57]
"and over time we own or ought to own our inner life which will reveal itself in our faces I often think and sometimes tell the story about a guy in one of the first churches the first church actually that I worked at I won't tell you his real name but he was just a joyless person and his face would kind of depress you you know our face as we carry our face into relationships into the world it impacts people For Better or For Worse positively or negatively our faces just do that" [00:50:31]
"ultimately what we are about is not face management this is not put on a happy face this is the invitation to have Jesus become a part of our inner life our inner world now the Bible has very interesting things to say about faces and a face is a public way an observable way for your presence to be known cross upon is the Greek word for face and it's also simply the word for presence we will sometimes talk about things like meeting with somebody face to face being fully present with them or I'm afraid to face up to something I'm afraid to look at it directly to be fully present with us with it" [00:55:14]
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