This morning, I was blessed to hear from Pastor Russel Ames, a very powerful and interesting insight on "Seeing the face of God". I have interspersed Pastor Ames's message with some of my own thoughts and the result is as under.
Being a Christian and having professed my love for Christ, I have sometimes wondered what it would be like to 'see' God face-to-face. Moses saw the Glory of God but before his time, Jacob saw God face to face. He wrestled an entire night with God and for what? He wanted God to bless him. He fought with God for a blessing. And this was the same Jacob, who had taken the birthright of Esau. The same Jacob who was returning to meet his brother, fearful of his wrath, fearful of death and while he was mentally tormented with visions of what would happen the next morning, he wrestled with a man, whom he believed was God. And he does prevail. He receives his blessing. God puts his hip out of joint and in this deformity, he is blessed as he is recognized.
The next morning, Jacob sends his cattle, his wives, his sons and his servants in front of him as he approaches his brother Esau. Why? He is petrified that his brother will rebuke him and might even kill him. His is a peace offering but how does Esau react. Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. (Genesis 33:4)
Esau forgives Jacob and refuses his gifts saying that the LORD has given him enough. To this Jacob answers, ".. Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.(Genesis 33:10)"
Jacob said that He saw the face of the LORD in Esau's face. What did he really mean? How can you see the face of the LORD in the face of your relatives or friends. Ps. Ames explained this using the example of Mother Teresa and her service. In every destitute that she served, in every tear that she wiped, she saw the face of the LORD. She saw the face of Jesus. Indeed she did as these verses from Mathew Chapter 25:35-36 testify...
"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me."
Serving Jesus can only lead to one thing in a physical world.Pain, suffering and rebuke but looking beyond the boundaries of a physical world, there is much more to be achieved. Yes, in serving Jesus there is the one real chance to see HIM and to meet HIM, face-to-face and to be in HIS presence forever and that would be really something worthwhile.
Being a Christian and having professed my love for Christ, I have sometimes wondered what it would be like to 'see' God face-to-face. Moses saw the Glory of God but before his time, Jacob saw God face to face. He wrestled an entire night with God and for what? He wanted God to bless him. He fought with God for a blessing. And this was the same Jacob, who had taken the birthright of Esau. The same Jacob who was returning to meet his brother, fearful of his wrath, fearful of death and while he was mentally tormented with visions of what would happen the next morning, he wrestled with a man, whom he believed was God. And he does prevail. He receives his blessing. God puts his hip out of joint and in this deformity, he is blessed as he is recognized.
The next morning, Jacob sends his cattle, his wives, his sons and his servants in front of him as he approaches his brother Esau. Why? He is petrified that his brother will rebuke him and might even kill him. His is a peace offering but how does Esau react. Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. (Genesis 33:4)
Esau forgives Jacob and refuses his gifts saying that the LORD has given him enough. To this Jacob answers, ".. Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.(Genesis 33:10)"
Jacob said that He saw the face of the LORD in Esau's face. What did he really mean? How can you see the face of the LORD in the face of your relatives or friends. Ps. Ames explained this using the example of Mother Teresa and her service. In every destitute that she served, in every tear that she wiped, she saw the face of the LORD. She saw the face of Jesus. Indeed she did as these verses from Mathew Chapter 25:35-36 testify...
"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me."
Serving Jesus can only lead to one thing in a physical world.Pain, suffering and rebuke but looking beyond the boundaries of a physical world, there is much more to be achieved. Yes, in serving Jesus there is the one real chance to see HIM and to meet HIM, face-to-face and to be in HIS presence forever and that would be really something worthwhile.
