This drawing was in an email I received recently. Look closely… What do you see? From a distance it appears to be someone’s simple drawing of Jesus’ face. But upon closer inspection, this picture is full of scenes depicting the life, love, and purpose of Jesus, our Savior and Shepherd.
Seeking Jesus’ face is much like absorbing this picture. We can casually glance toward Jesus, giving Him a daily nod & acknowledgement… and we will see Him. But if we want to know Jesus and the more intimate details of His life, love, and purpose for us, we must invest more than a cursory glance. We must seek… Not just see His face.
Seeking Jesus’ face means turning our eyes away from the things that distract us, emptying our hands from the things that detain us, and releasing our hearts from the things that derail us. Because…the things that distract, detain, and derail us are in opposite position of the Face and Presence of Jesus.
Seeking Jesus’ face means turning away from those things and making a deliberate decision to set our eyes on His Word, our hands on His Work, and our hearts on His Worth. It means valuing Jesus & time with Him in His Word and obedience to Him above everything else. It means giving Jesus His rightful place – First Place – in our lives. Dedicating the first-fruits of our days, time, and talents to Him and doing so with free joy.
Though the enemy would try to fool us into thinking we will be giving up the precious in order to seek Jesus’ face, nothing could be farther from the truth. We can NEVER out-give God. EVER! The investment we make in seeking Jesus’ face will birth priceless returns. It’s a promise.
Will you join me in seeking {rather than only seeing} the face of Jesus this next year? 🙂
“Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek and require the Lord [as their indispensable necessity]. Seek, inquire of and for the Lord, and crave Him and His strength (His might and inflexibility to temptation); seek and require His face and His presence [continually] evermore.” Psalm 105:3-4
Happy last days of 2012 to you, my friends. Thanks so much for being a part of Smelling Coffee. You are a blessing to me!
Jackie says
Great post. Looking forward to seeking his face this coming year!
Debbie says
This is beautiful! You’re right. When I first glanced it looked like a simple drawing. But as I looked more closely so much opened up; amazing. How like His Word. The more I look at it and study it, the more He reveals to me.
And btw, I’ve discovered Kim of At Home with Kim only recently. She has been an encouragement to me for getting back in shape. I read her post when you two met in person. One day …
Happy New Year!
Blessings and love,
Debbie
Kim | At Home With Kim says
Jennifer, I L O V E this post so much. What a timely message to share as we begin afresh in the New Year. I just love the illustration and your tie to it in your post…. when I first saw the picture I did just glance and then look away. How many times have I done that to the Lord? But God.
So touched by this my Friend. Love to you!!!
Grammy Blick says
I’ve seen that graphic before — and still cannot read the bottom wording to seek the source. It tells the gospel story, and I love it.