Imagine that you and God are standing face to face. When God looks at you, what expression do you see on his face? Is he mad, sad, glad? Do you make God frown, scowl, or smile?
I heard somewhere that the majority of college students who are asked this question say that God is angry with them. From the look on his face, they say it’s obvious that God doesn’t like them very much.
I have a theory that goes something like this: our attitude toward “sinners” (see previous post) has a lot to do with the expression we think God has on his face when he looks at us.
Our view of God dictates, to a large degree, how we treat others.
Now imagine that you are one of the sinners at Levi’s table in Luke 5:27-32. Jesus is there eating and drinking with you. As he hands you a hunk of bread, what look do you see on his face?
Look closely.
You’re looking at the face of God.
The look on his face tells you exactly how God feels about you.
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
My hope is that Jesus has a pretty nice wine buzz going and is looking at me through slightly glazed but loving eyes.
AC
Wade,
Just wanted to say thanks again for the sermon you delivered this past Sunday. In listen to myself preach each week so listening to you was a treat!
Very well spoken.
Mark Moore
Greg Taylors friend from Washington DC
Wow, I needed this. Really needed this.
Thank you.
I think of it as smiling, sometimes proud, sometimes not so much, but always loving. I figure He’s crying when he looks at me far too often.
What a wonderful thought. I am stealing this one FYI.
I see him with a smile and warmth that is inviting. I see compassion in his eyes because he sees me as God does, not in spite of my sin but because of it and there is something in those eyes that says expectations. Not expectations to prove or earn but expectations that I can be something more then I have accepted. That if I would just get to know Him better I would find that I have much more strength, courage and love then I ever imagined.
Thanks again Wade and God bless.
I think it is the same look of love each of us have when we look at our children. Except with more love than we know how to give.
DU
I see that he loves me. He knows I deserve to be sitting at the table with the sinners, after all, I am one of the biggest ones. And yet he doesn’t look down at me or condemn me. He loves me…just as I am.
Wade,
Great food for thought. I thought about this so much yesterday that it became my Wednesday night lesson. Does that count as plagerism?
Tom