The Joy of Being Face-to-Face

Letter

BuildingOne Another

Therefore encourage one another andbuild one another up, just as you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11

The Joy of Being Face-to-Face

Dear Friend,

Some years ago, I was driving on an Interstate listening to a talk given by Cullen Story, my wonderful New Testament Greek professor. Cullen was talking about the marvelous John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”*

He observed that the Greek words translated“with God,” pros ton theon, have the sense of “toward the God,” that is facing God. So, the Word, Jesus, was “with” God in the sense of being in face-to-face loving relationship with God.

What a wonderful picture of Jesus and his Abba Father, face-to-face, loving one another, enjoying one another, communicating with one another.

They share an incredibly intimate, loving, wonderful, and ongoing relationship.

I was so taken with that magnificent thought that I lost track of where I was driving and missed my exit by twenty miles, but never regretted it for a moment!

We who put our trust in Jesus are literally“in Christ” and have the privilege and joy of facing God with Jesus in intimacy and love.

Take a moment to bow your heart in honor and lift your face in delight. Spend a few moments simply enjoying the wonder of the face-to-face relationship with God that you have been given in Jesus. In the same way, enjoy to wonder of being face-to-face with the people in your life, whether in person or through the Internet!

"You have said, ‘Seek my face.’ My heart says to you, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek.’ Psalm 27:8

Joy to you -- E. Stanley Ott

Scripture from the ESV

Show Notes

Think of the people in your life who are significant to you, whom you love and would miss if you could not see them. Do you sense the joy of being face-to-face?

The Psalms often speak of seeking God's face. Why not take a moment right now. Shift your mind away from your computer or phone and other matters and simply look up and become aware of the presence of our Lord. Enjoy a time of loving the Lord who loves you!

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Link to "He is Everything to Me" by Ralph Carmichael https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S5AknvJAUU&t=2s

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Photo by Johnny Cohen on Unsplash