The Twenty-Third Day of Advent

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 12:07 am Post subject: The Twenty-Third Day of Advent

â€œThey will receive blessings from the LORD, and justice from their saving God. Such are the people that love the LORD, that seek the face of the God of Jacob.â€ (Psalm 24:5-6)

What would we do if we were able to look into the face of God? Would we have fear in facing the one against whom we have sinned, or would we feel wonder at the everlasting love He has for each and every one of us? What would we say to him in that moment?

Is it because we do not see the face of God that some struggle with believing in Him? Is it because we do not see the face of God that others of us take Him for granted? Is it because we do not see the face of the God that we fail to remember to make time for Him in our lives?

Would we be different if we were able to look in the eyes of God? Would we be different if we were able to see His emotion, what He feels when He sees the actions of His children? Would we be different if we could see in His face the salvation He offers to each and every one of us?

What would we do if His messenger came to us and said, â€œBehold, this is the work the Lord has for you?â€ Would we shrink in fear, would we turn away; or would our heart be filled with desire to respond to His call?

And coming to her, he said, â€œHail, favored one! The Lord is with you.â€ But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, â€œDo not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.â€ (Luke 21:23-33)

The favor of God rested upon Mary. She was chosen by Him to bring His only begotten Son into the world. At His birth, she would look into the face of her Son, the face of her Lord and Savior; and so would her betrothed husband, Joseph. What could have been their thoughts in those moments knowing what the angels had told them?

We do not always know the plans of God, but if we seek His Word, if we listen in prayer; we will come to know that which He asks of us. Angels do not need to stand before us, for when He came into the world, He brought the Word to us, He created His church, He appointed His apostles and He sent them to the edges of the world to spread the good news of the salvation He brought through the sacrifice He made for our sins.

In each of us, He has placed gifts which should we share in fulfillment of His commandments, we will see peace in our day. He came to us to show that through love, much greater things may be done than through the divisions and conflict driven by he evil one. If we do not see the gifts He has granted us, if we do not see that which He asks of us, we should go to Him in prayer.

The Word is before us; it has been spoken, it has been written; therefore, angels do not need to stand before us, yet he sends guardian angels to watch over us. The choice of what we do is still with us; the path we walk may seem beyond our control, but we choose how we react when God makes His call.

He told us through the Word what He asks of us. Through His commandments, He sends us to each other to fulfill the Word. If we seek to see the face of God, we only need to look into the face of those who do His will, those who care for others, those who act in love; for He made us in His image, therefore, when we do the work of the Lord, we present the face of God.

May the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier