Press the arrow to listen to Hillsong United sing “Lord of Lords” as you read today’s devotion about the face of Christ.

Scripture

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

Observation

What is the purpose of my life? That is the ultimate question of living. But where is the answer to be found?

To see Christ’s face is to find our purpose for living. Jesus is man fully alive who alone of the whole human race can show us what it means to be fully human. In Jesus there more than a man with a purpose, he is Christ so he is THE purpose. That is why he calls us to follow him. Jesus is the only human who knows where he is going because he is God.

Seeing Christ’s face seems out of reach, doesn’t it? We might as well be asked to see the dark side of the moon. How can we on earth see Christ’s face without death? Paul says it is simple. The brilliant face of Christ is to be seen in our hearts. Paul could speak from experience. He had seen Christ’s face brighter than the noon sun.

The blazing glory of the resurrected Christ is glowing inside of we who know him. That is why it is so important for us daily to spend unhurried and uninterrupted time with Christ. The resurrection needs to move from an ancient tomb to Christ alive who speaks to us today. The ascension needs to be more than a Renaissance painting, but the vivid sense of Christ piercing the darkness of evil around us. The throne of God needs to be more than a future hope, but a fresh experience of hearing Jesus Christ pray for us by name before our Father. Jesus is not remote, he is near if we will take time to seek him.

Application

There is more of Christ available for me than I take advantage of. Right now I’m watching a sunrise. Our home has a seventh story, 36 foot glass wall facing east that makes sunrise unavoidable. How many sunrises I have missed in other homes. But not in this one. I see them all. As C.S. Lewis said, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen. Not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

Prayer

Father, I refuse to believe that the vision Paul or John had of the glory of Christ is out of my reach. It is yours to give. I want to see your glory in the face of Christ. I am not seeking some mystical experience, but one connected with real life. I want to see Christ in the faces of those around me, in the words of the Bible, in songs of worship and in the thousands of events in this day where the finger of God moves and just because you are thinking of me. I want to see Christ so that I may know where I am going. Amen.