We, along with friends and folk from two different churches, are mid-way into a 21-day Daniel-type fast. It has been an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Fasting allows us to reflect slowly and with purpose. Making a determined choice to do without something, for a period of time, something we enjoy on a daily basis causes focus to happen. Focus allows us to fine-tune and attenuate distractions so that we can do what we were created to do, to hear God’s voice and, in Spirit, see His face.
Something supernatural happens when we choose to reflect on and listen to God. We get to “incline” ourselves toward Him. We lean in His direction, and He leans our way. Awesome!
I must admit that what I do long for and look forward to is seeing Jesus (and many others!) when get to heaven. I have often thought about what my reactions and emotions might be. I do imagine myself with a gigantic audience of passionate, grateful, joyful lovers of Jesus. Our relational circuits will be fully on! Our love response to Jesus will be in total meltdown mode. If I asked you then what you might think grace might be, you would unashamedly say “it’s the face of Jesus!” He is the Face of Grace and has always been that.
Our Creator, Jesus, Who made us and created all our emotions will no doubt be expressing emotions that day of The Great Gathering. Joy? Absolutely! Tears of happiness? I strongly suspect so! He no doubt would be thinking, “I paid for them all! And they’re all here! Everyone I bought (redeemed) is present! So worth it all!”
Oh, did I already mention Joy? Grace might get a new definition that day. Super-abundant Joy!! I think our dancing will become a form of levitation! Jesus becomes the altogether Remarkable One.
The Holy Spirit, Who is able to paint inexpressible images for us, wants to sanctify our imaginations and desires so that they turn with gratitude toward what is now a visible Face of Grace. He (the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit) turns toward us to speak. He says that we are His absolute love and joy, and that He will never abandon us and will never let us go.
Such is Grace. Such is the Face of Love. Such is God!
“God-Enthroned spoke to me and said, “Consider this! I am making everything to be new and fresh. Write down at once all that I have told you, because each word is trustworthy and dependable.”
Rev 21:5-7 TPT
Then he said to me, “It has been accomplished! For I am the Aleph and the Tav, the beginning and the end. I will give water to all who are thirsty. As my gracious gift, they will continuously drink from the fountain of living water. The conquering ones will inherit these gifts from me. I will continue to be their God and they will continue being children for me.”
Author: David Crabtree
David and Narelle have spent more than 30 years in Senior Leadership and were the founding senior pastors of DaySpring Church (Sydney) where they led for 27 years. They are currently living in Celina, Texas where they are teachers, preachers, conference speakers, and authors. They have two children with six grandchildren. Life's good! David and Narelle are also members of the Bethel Leaders Network (BLN) and have a role as BLN Builders.
4 Comments
Dear David,
I appreciate a face being put on grace. It seems in my past that the church was after grace but was afraid of God. Unbelievably but understandably my experience around so many was to seek a way to get the grace and hold it in human understanding and strength for fear it would be taken away. This was the unconscious thought I recognized many times. I saw it in myself too. Seeing grace through the eyes of Jesus, though, arrests all fears. Why? Because when we see His face in true undeniable shape with eyes that can hide nothing we know what grace is, what favor is. Our being IS melted!
Thanks for the joyful reminder and for the encouragement to seek His face!
With brotherly affection, Mike Nield
So well said and insightful Mike. Thank you!
Who is the artist for the “heart of a lion, face of grace” picture?
Hi Sam, This picture comes from Stock.Adobe.com, By jozefklopacka.