But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed… And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Co 3:16, 18 (ESV)
But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! Lu 15:17 (NASB)
The daily life for the Christian man can be exhausting. We get stuck in sin. We don’t sense His presence. We struggle with discipline and distraction. We are anxious about decisions. We ask: How can this be good news?
But God, gracious provider of all, knows our ways and through His loving heart continuously calls us back to Himself. Back to center.
The Christian life is a life of turning and returning. Because of mercy and grace we can continually turn back. We turn our face and we look at Jesus. We turn away from sin, distraction, and lesser things and back to the Awareness of His continuous indwelling Presence.
When we turn to the Lord and look at His face, we are transformed. Like the prodigal son, we return to our senses and go to our Father. We are restored. Reset. This is not work we accomplish to earn favor but action to receive grace.
Restoration and transformation are God’s work, not ours. We turn. He transforms.
The measure of your growth in Christian life is not perfection. Growth is measured by a reduction in the time it takes for you to turn and return to Him. Learn to be quick to turn and return. To return after you have sinned. To return when you’re consumed with work. To return when your mind wanders during your devo. To turn to Him in the middle of the battle with the world, the flesh, or the devil drawing you into sin (Ja 1:14-15).
A life of turning and returning is a gracious life powered by God’s drawing love. It is a life lived by faith. A life that requires all your masculine strength. Not to obey the law, but to live in God’s presence.
This is the Good News.
Turn and look at His face. Let His eyes stare at you with grace, mercy, love. Look at Him till you move past the point of rejection. Till you sense His acceptance.
The Next Question.
– What voices are keeping you from hearing God call you to turn?
– What behavior keeps you from turning and looking at Him?
– When Jesus grabs your face in His hands and stares at you, why do you squirm and look away?