For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
“Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; And attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble, I will CALL UPON YOU, For YOU WILL ANSWER ME.” (Psalm 86:5-7)
“Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, “SEEK MY FACE.” My heart says to you, “YOUR FACE, LORD, DO I SEEK.” Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in. Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.” (Psalms 27:7-11)
Many times in Scripture, God’s people are encouraged to seek the face of God. A familiar verse declares, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and SEEK MY FACE and turn from their wicked ways, then I will HEAR from heaven, and I will FORGIVE their sin and will HEAL their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). God told Moses, “…you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” (Exodus 33:20)
But If we can’t SEE GOD’S FACE, how do we SEEK GOD’S FACE? “NO ONE has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, WHO IS HIMSELF GOD (the Son) and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made Him known.” (John 1:18) When scripture says that some has seen God’s face, This, of course, is dealing with a theophany, or really, a spiritual seeing of the face of God, but NOT IN ALL OF HIS GLORY. God said to Moses, “…you cannot see my face, for NO ONE MAY SEE ME AND LIVE.” Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and YOU WILL SEE MY BACK; but my face must not be seen.” (Exodus 33:20-23)
Remember though, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are GOD’S CHILDREN. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—HEIRS (klēronomos: beneficiaries, inheritors) OF GOD AND CO–HEIRS WITH CHRIST…” (Romans 8:16-17)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham