Seeking the Divine: Reflecting God's Face in Us
Summary
In today's reflection, we explored the profound concept of seeking the face of God, as inspired by Psalm 27:8 and 2 Corinthians 4. The face, both in human and divine terms, is not merely a physical feature but a profound expression of one's inner being. This idea is deeply rooted in the theology of Dallas Willard, who emphasized the significance of the face as the outward manifestation of our deepest selves. The face of Jesus, though unseen by us in the flesh, reveals the glory and character of God through His life, teachings, and actions. Jesus, as the embodiment of love, joy, and peace, offers us a glimpse into the heart of God.
We delved into the notion that our faces, too, are reflections of our inner lives. They can reveal our true selves, even when we attempt to hide behind masks. This is evident in the way children and the elderly often display their emotions openly, unguarded by societal expectations. The face of Jesus, as described in the scriptures, was one of love, joy, and peace, embodying the very essence of the Spirit. In Jesus, God put a face to His kingdom, inviting us to see His love and grace.
The challenge for us is to become students of God's face, to recognize His presence in the faces of those around us and in the beauty of creation. By doing so, we can better understand the incarnation's role in redemption and the unique way Jesus manifested God's face to humanity. As we look at the faces of others, we are reminded of their inherent value and the divine image they bear. In this way, we are called to be present with others, to offer love and support, and to reflect God's love through our own faces.
Key Takeaways:
1. The face is more than a physical feature; it is the expression of our inner being. In seeking God's face, we are invited to know His heart and character, as revealed through Jesus. This pursuit is a journey of deepening our relationship with God and understanding His love for us. [01:52]
2. Jesus' face, though unseen by us, is the ultimate revelation of God's glory and character. His life, teachings, and actions display the love, joy, and peace that define the Spirit's presence. By contemplating Jesus, we gain insight into the nature of God and His kingdom. [08:01]
3. Our faces can reveal our true selves, even when we attempt to hide behind masks. Children and the elderly often display their emotions openly, reminding us of the importance of authenticity and vulnerability in our relationships with others and with God. [05:18]
4. We are called to be students of God's face, recognizing His presence in the faces of those around us and in the beauty of creation. By doing so, we can better understand the incarnation's role in redemption and the unique way Jesus manifested God's face to humanity. [10:57]
5. As we look at the faces of others, we are reminded of their inherent value and the divine image they bear. In this way, we are called to be present with others, to offer love and support, and to reflect God's love through our own faces. [11:13]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:26] - Introduction to the Series
- [01:04] - Camera Focus and Facial Recognition
- [01:35] - Seeking God's Face
- [02:09] - The Face of Jesus
- [03:17] - Dallas Willard's Theology of the Face
- [04:06] - The Biblical Perspective on Faces
- [05:18] - Authenticity and Vulnerability
- [06:04] - The Duchenne Smile
- [07:01] - Recognizing Faces in the Afterlife
- [08:01] - The Fruit of the Spirit
- [09:05] - Proclaiming Jesus' Face
- [10:21] - The Psychology of the Face
- [11:25] - God's Face in Creation
- [12:08] - Reflecting God's Love
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Psalm 27:8
- 2 Corinthians 4:6
---
Observation Questions:
1. In Psalm 27:8, what does the psalmist mean by "seek his face"? How does this relate to the idea of seeking God's presence in our lives? [01:35]
2. According to 2 Corinthians 4:6, how is God's glory displayed in the face of Jesus? What does this imply about our understanding of Jesus' character? [02:24]
3. The sermon mentions that our faces can reveal our true selves, even when we try to hide behind masks. What examples were given in the sermon to illustrate this point? [05:18]
4. How does the sermon describe the face of Jesus, and what characteristics are associated with it? [08:01]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to be a "student of God's face," and how can this pursuit deepen one's relationship with God? [10:57]
2. The sermon suggests that Jesus' face is the ultimate revelation of God's glory and character. How does this understanding impact the way believers view the teachings and actions of Jesus? [09:05]
3. How does the concept of authenticity and vulnerability, as discussed in the sermon, challenge societal norms about how we present ourselves to others? [05:18]
4. In what ways does recognizing God's presence in the faces of others and in creation help believers understand the incarnation's role in redemption? [10:21]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt you were hiding your true self behind a "mask." What steps can you take to be more authentic in your relationships with others and with God? [05:18]
2. How can you actively seek to recognize God's face in the people you encounter daily? What practical steps can you take to be more present and supportive to those around you? [11:13]
3. Consider the characteristics of Jesus' face—love, joy, and peace. Which of these qualities do you find most challenging to embody, and how can you work on developing it in your life? [08:01]
4. The sermon encourages us to see the divine image in others. How can this perspective change the way you interact with people who are different from you or whom you find difficult to love? [11:13]
5. Think about the beauty of creation as a reflection of God's face. How can you incorporate moments of appreciation for nature into your spiritual practice to enhance your connection with God? [11:25]
6. The sermon mentions the importance of being a student of God's face. What specific practices or disciplines can you incorporate into your routine to help you seek God's presence more intentionally? [10:57]
7. How can you remind yourself daily that you are loved by God, and how might this awareness influence the way you present yourself to the world? [12:08]
Devotional
Day 1: The Face as a Window to the Soul
The face is more than a physical feature; it is the expression of our inner being. In seeking God's face, we are invited to know His heart and character, as revealed through Jesus. This pursuit is a journey of deepening our relationship with God and understanding His love for us. The face of Jesus, though unseen by us in the flesh, reveals the glory and character of God through His life, teachings, and actions. Jesus, as the embodiment of love, joy, and peace, offers us a glimpse into the heart of God. By contemplating Jesus, we gain insight into the nature of God and His kingdom. [01:52]
Psalm 105:4 (ESV): "Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!"
Reflection: Consider how your face reflects your inner being. What steps can you take today to ensure that your face reflects the love and character of God to those around you?
Day 2: Jesus as the Revelation of God's Glory
Jesus' face, though unseen by us, is the ultimate revelation of God's glory and character. His life, teachings, and actions display the love, joy, and peace that define the Spirit's presence. By contemplating Jesus, we gain insight into the nature of God and His kingdom. The challenge for us is to become students of God's face, to recognize His presence in the faces of those around us and in the beauty of creation. By doing so, we can better understand the incarnation's role in redemption and the unique way Jesus manifested God's face to humanity. [08:01]
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
Reflection: How can you intentionally seek to see the face of Jesus in your daily interactions and surroundings today?
Day 3: Authenticity and Vulnerability in Our Faces
Our faces can reveal our true selves, even when we attempt to hide behind masks. Children and the elderly often display their emotions openly, reminding us of the importance of authenticity and vulnerability in our relationships with others and with God. The face of Jesus, as described in the scriptures, was one of love, joy, and peace, embodying the very essence of the Spirit. In Jesus, God put a face to His kingdom, inviting us to see His love and grace. [05:18]
1 Peter 3:4 (ESV): "But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent interaction where you felt the need to hide your true emotions. How can you practice authenticity and vulnerability in your relationships today?
Day 4: Recognizing God's Presence in Others
We are called to be students of God's face, recognizing His presence in the faces of those around us and in the beauty of creation. By doing so, we can better understand the incarnation's role in redemption and the unique way Jesus manifested God's face to humanity. As we look at the faces of others, we are reminded of their inherent value and the divine image they bear. In this way, we are called to be present with others, to offer love and support, and to reflect God's love through our own faces. [10:57]
Matthew 25:40 (ESV): "And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’"
Reflection: Who in your life do you often overlook or take for granted? How can you intentionally recognize and honor the divine image in them today?
Day 5: Reflecting God's Love Through Our Faces
As we look at the faces of others, we are reminded of their inherent value and the divine image they bear. In this way, we are called to be present with others, to offer love and support, and to reflect God's love through our own faces. The challenge for us is to become students of God's face, to recognize His presence in the faces of those around us and in the beauty of creation. By doing so, we can better understand the incarnation's role in redemption and the unique way Jesus manifested God's face to humanity. [11:13]
Colossians 3:10 (ESV): "And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."
Reflection: Think of a person you will encounter today. How can you intentionally reflect God's love to them through your expressions and actions?
Quotes
Psalm 27 verse 8. my heart says of you seek his face, your face God I will seek do not hide your face from me. what does it mean where do we find the face of God? well this Quest is ultimately expressed in uh the letter that Paul wrote to the church at Corinth second Corinthians chapter four. [00:01:35]
for the God who said let light shine out of Darkness made his light shine in our hearts, that's the deepest part of our lives, to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Jesus. now what does he mean by the face of Jesus, because obviously you and I have not seen the face of Jesus. [00:02:12]
the face is a very important part of the human person, it is how we recognize what is going on inside of us the the New Testament or the Greek word for face is prosopon and uh you might have heard of uh prosopagnosia which is the inability to recognize or remember faces, and that afflicts folks I have a good friend that struggles with that. [00:03:17]
your face from a Biblical perspective is not just that physical skin covered part of the front of your head, it's not just your eyes and your nose and your mouth and your chin it is those two but it's also the place where your inner being your inner self your deepest character your heart finds outward expression. [00:03:58]
humans can and do use their bodies to hide their souls, by contrast young children and the very old are cherished because they cannot hide or have given up hiding their souls likewise our thoughts as children soon learn are basically hidden, feelings though are much harder to hide are masked with great ability by actors and many in professional roles. [00:05:09]
Jesus's face was loving joyful and peaceful, how do we know that? well we know that because the Bible is quite clear that the fruit the expression of the spirit or the spirit's presence in somebody's life begins with love joy peace, and Jesus was above all preeminently supremely ultimately the man of the spirit. [00:07:52]
so to know his face was to know a face that was characterized by being loving and joyful and peaceful in Jesus Dallas would sometimes say God was putting a face to the kingdom, and a kingdom to the face, in other words it turns out that the face of Jesus is the face of God, and the kingdom of God is the kingdom of Jesus. [00:08:18]
when we were not able to see the physical fleshly face his life, his interactions with people his words his teachings his generosity his love and joy and peace and then his death uh sacrificially and then his resurrection Proclaim his face, we know the face of Jesus we cannot hide our faces. [00:09:06]
Michael says about Dallas's thought here the psychology of the face is vital to understanding the incarnation's unique role in Redemption simply put Jesus manifested the Triune God's face to people simply by being present with them in human form while he was on Earth. [00:10:18]
be a student of the face of God, look at the faces of people in your life because they have been made in God's image and Jesus is somehow present in what we think of as the least of them, notice faces, where are people worn or tired or beaten down or joyful, and how can you be with them and how can you help them. [00:10:52]
notice the face of God in his creation, I'm standing here because I don't know if you'd be able to see it or not but there's a little burst of yellow right up there in that field, and this is now connected to what we talked about a week or so ago the relationship between spirit and matter. [00:11:20]
tell your face, you are loved by God just take a look at your face every once in a while today and see what message is in it and remember that you two may be given the gift of a loving joyful peaceful face that is the strange thing but when you just take a deep breath have that thought and smile. [00:12:01]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Mar 27, 2023. Do you have any questions about it?