Shine On Me
A few weeks ago, we took a trip to Indianapolis to visit my sister-in-law and her family. She has a 2-year-old boy who completely adores my kids. Like a good mom who loves a great surprise, she didn't tell him we were coming. They were innocently waiting in the front yard when we pulled up. When my daughter hopped out of the car, his face lit up when he realized it was her.
Because he loves her. Because she loves him. Because they enjoy each other's presence.
Your face lights up, too. When you see that long-lost friend. When you find the shirt you wanted and realize it's on sale. When you find a bra that really, really fits. When someone is kind to you for no reason at all.
But did you know that God's face lights up, too?
I came across this verse a few weeks ago:
"For they did not take the land by their sword--their arm did not bring them victory--but by Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You were pleased with them," (Psalm 44:3, HCSB, italics added).
That phrase seems almost out of place. I get that His right hand and His arm gave His people victory. Those are personifications of His strength.
But the light of His face? I'd never thought about it as something I need. Something I might want. Something I can actually experience.
The Lord would speak with Moses "face to face, just as man speaks with his friend," (Exodus 33:11). But when Moses asked to see God's glory, God told him, "you cannot see my face, for no one can see Me and live" (Exodus 33:20). Still, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai after meeting with God, "the skin of his face shone as a result of his speaking with the Lord," (Exodus 34:29).
And I understand that the face of Heavenly Jesus is intensely bright. [Not Jesus as He walked on earth as a man; Jesus as He appears in heaven and when heavenly Jesus chose to visit earth.] When Jesus was transfigured on top of a mountain, "His face shone like the sun," (Matthew 17:2). Daniel saw the pre-incarnate Christ, reporting that "His face like the brilliance of lightning," (Daniel 10:6). And when John saw Jesus in the book of Revelation, he said that, "His face was shining like the sun at midday," (1:16).
Pause right here and consider all that:
God's face shines.
Jesus' face shines.
ON THOSE WHO PLEASE HIM.
Picture it: Just as my little nephew's face lit up when he saw his cousin, God's face shines when we please Him.
HIS FACE SHINES ON YOU when He is pleased with you.
Because He loves you. Because you love Him. Because y'all enjoy each other's presence.
The psalmists knew this:
"May Your face shine on Your servant; save me in Your steadfast love!" (Psalm 31:16)
"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us," (Psalm 67:1)
"Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved," (Psalm 80:3, 7, 19)
"Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of Your face," (Psalm 89:15)
"Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me Your statutes," (Psalm 119:135)
Does God's face shine on you?
Some days it may not seem like it. Some days are just bad. Or maybe they're not actually bad; they're just blah. And you know God is there, but you don't experience the light of His face. You don't feel His pleasure.
May I suggest something? Faith makes God's face shine. "Without faith it is impossible to please God," (Hebrews 11:6). His face shines on those who please Him. Faith pleases Him. And "faith is confidence in what we hope for and the assurance about what we do not see," (Hebrews 11:1).
When God sees your faith--your believing that He is there and He loves you and He is completely in control--and sees you acting out that faith, His face lights up.
Fixed eyes. Big grin, just about to burst into laughter. Full attention.
YOU make God's face light up.
Why?
Because that's His glory. Back to Exodus 33: When Moses asked to see His glory and God said no, He further explained, "when My glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by," (verse 22). God's face is where His glory is. His light. HE IS LIGHT, and His lit face reveals His glory.
We're not to experience that light and that glory and hold it to ourselves. It's our jobs to spread it.
"For God who said, 'let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ," (2 Corinthians 4:6).
We have the light of the knowledge of God's glory. We know the face of Jesus Christ, like that of His Father, is full of light.
And when we, like Moses, experience the light of God's face in our own lives, we can share it with others.
The Old Testament priests blessed the Israelites this way:
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace,"
(Numbers 6:24-26).
God's shining face reveals His grace and peace. It gives us victory.
Oh, how I pray God's face shines on you. Go walk in faith (2 Corinthians 5:7) and feel the light!
Because he loves her. Because she loves him. Because they enjoy each other's presence.
Your face lights up, too. When you see that long-lost friend. When you find the shirt you wanted and realize it's on sale. When you find a bra that really, really fits. When someone is kind to you for no reason at all.
But did you know that God's face lights up, too?
I came across this verse a few weeks ago:
"For they did not take the land by their sword--their arm did not bring them victory--but by Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You were pleased with them," (Psalm 44:3, HCSB, italics added).
That phrase seems almost out of place. I get that His right hand and His arm gave His people victory. Those are personifications of His strength.
But the light of His face? I'd never thought about it as something I need. Something I might want. Something I can actually experience.
The Lord would speak with Moses "face to face, just as man speaks with his friend," (Exodus 33:11). But when Moses asked to see God's glory, God told him, "you cannot see my face, for no one can see Me and live" (Exodus 33:20). Still, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai after meeting with God, "the skin of his face shone as a result of his speaking with the Lord," (Exodus 34:29).
And I understand that the face of Heavenly Jesus is intensely bright. [Not Jesus as He walked on earth as a man; Jesus as He appears in heaven and when heavenly Jesus chose to visit earth.] When Jesus was transfigured on top of a mountain, "His face shone like the sun," (Matthew 17:2). Daniel saw the pre-incarnate Christ, reporting that "His face like the brilliance of lightning," (Daniel 10:6). And when John saw Jesus in the book of Revelation, he said that, "His face was shining like the sun at midday," (1:16).
Pause right here and consider all that:
God's face shines.
Jesus' face shines.
ON THOSE WHO PLEASE HIM.
Picture it: Just as my little nephew's face lit up when he saw his cousin, God's face shines when we please Him.
HIS FACE SHINES ON YOU when He is pleased with you.
Because He loves you. Because you love Him. Because y'all enjoy each other's presence.
The psalmists knew this:
"May Your face shine on Your servant; save me in Your steadfast love!" (Psalm 31:16)
"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us," (Psalm 67:1)
"Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved," (Psalm 80:3, 7, 19)
"Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of Your face," (Psalm 89:15)
"Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me Your statutes," (Psalm 119:135)
Does God's face shine on you?
Some days it may not seem like it. Some days are just bad. Or maybe they're not actually bad; they're just blah. And you know God is there, but you don't experience the light of His face. You don't feel His pleasure.
May I suggest something? Faith makes God's face shine. "Without faith it is impossible to please God," (Hebrews 11:6). His face shines on those who please Him. Faith pleases Him. And "faith is confidence in what we hope for and the assurance about what we do not see," (Hebrews 11:1).
When God sees your faith--your believing that He is there and He loves you and He is completely in control--and sees you acting out that faith, His face lights up.
Fixed eyes. Big grin, just about to burst into laughter. Full attention.
YOU make God's face light up.
Why?
Because that's His glory. Back to Exodus 33: When Moses asked to see His glory and God said no, He further explained, "when My glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by," (verse 22). God's face is where His glory is. His light. HE IS LIGHT, and His lit face reveals His glory.
We're not to experience that light and that glory and hold it to ourselves. It's our jobs to spread it.
"For God who said, 'let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ," (2 Corinthians 4:6).
We have the light of the knowledge of God's glory. We know the face of Jesus Christ, like that of His Father, is full of light.
And when we, like Moses, experience the light of God's face in our own lives, we can share it with others.
The Old Testament priests blessed the Israelites this way:
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace,"
(Numbers 6:24-26).
God's shining face reveals His grace and peace. It gives us victory.
Oh, how I pray God's face shines on you. Go walk in faith (2 Corinthians 5:7) and feel the light!
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