What Makes Your Eyes Sparkle and Face Shine?
Good Morning Friends,
Let’s be honest. A relationship with God is a pretty priceless experience. Jesus compares it to the Kingdom of God… a treasure of great value. Moses experienced it and it physically changed him. The Glory of God is perhaps one of the most amazing revelations of God. To get to know and to get a glimpse of and to understand even a little of God’s Glory can be the deepest, most profound and life changing experiences ever. It was the Glory of God that transformed Moses when he came face to face with love. What Makes Your Eyes Sparkle and Face Shine?
Scripture: Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Exodus 34:29-35 (NRSV)
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:44-46 (NRSV)
Message: When Moses came down from the mountain, Moses did not even know that the skin of his face shone yet the people saw in his face the love and glory of God. It was so overpowering that they could not look on him. Because Moses had given himself so completely to God’s presence on that mountain, his face shone with the radiance of Christ’s glory. When Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John, Jesus shone with the love and radiance of the glory of God. Peter, James and John were so astonished by the presence of God’s glory that they were nearly stupefied. They knew, though they could not altogether understand it or articulate it, that they were in the presence of God. It all reminds me of Jesus praying before the crucifixion. So too for us in preparation for our interaction in society with the tasks we have been assigned, we need to know that people look at our faces too. Every single day we can show the face of the love and glory of God. It requires however that we dwell for a time in the presence and love of God. Even one glance, one moment of intention, one instant of communion, even a little smile in the presence of God, has the power to completely transfigure us and that can spill over into the lives of others. Even though we do not know that the skin of our face can shines, know that if it is of God it might just be the greeting others find in their lives that begins the transformation in them.
Pray we search for God and be willing to go where God is found. Pray we spend time alone with God. Pray we experience God’s presence. Pray we share with God what is in our heart and mind. Pray we worship God. Pray we realize that we cannot stay on a mountaintop experience but need to finish what God would have us do to help others. Pray we let our light shine as an intercession for all those we meet. Pray we be reflectors of God’s glory. Pray we realize that God does want to do a great work in us and through us. Pray we realize that our purpose is to Glorify God and that means that God’s glory needs to shine forth in our countenance. Pray we share a smile for God. Pray we share the words of our faith but also be a witness without words.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 