From the UCC Network: Devotional for 12/27 "Seeing God"

Seeing God

Bible Excerpt from Exodus 33:18-23

The Lord said, “you cannot see my face…you shall see my back.”

Reflection by William C. Green

When my son was three and away from his mother he would point to a wall or a closed door and say, “My mommy’s there.”  He couldn’t see her, but he knew his mother was with him.

Such trust eludes us as we grow older and more skeptical.  It must have been hard for Moses when God says, “No, I won’t show you myself.”  He is only allowed to see God’s back.  But this was something, after all.  While Moses couldn’t see much, he knew God was present.

So it is for us.  God’s presence in our lives is elusive and indirect.  This is not the fault of our faith or vision.  It’s the way God wants it.  For us to grasp the full reality of God would be like staring at the sun, becoming as blinded as religious fanatics who claim to have God figured out.  We live in the light of the sun’s rays as in the light of God’s glory just celebrated again at Christmas.

As the festivity of the season recedes may this truth remain: although we can’t see Jesus, his presence is real in our lives.  Like my young son we can point to any wall or closed door we face that seems to stand between us and God, and say, “God is there.”

Prayer

Eternal God, may we know your love and mercy beyond anything we can fully grasp or understand.  In the spirit of Christ.  Amen.

About the Author William C. Green, a United Church of Christ minister, is the Director of Long Looking, a consultancy service specializing in fundraising and education for congregations. His new book, 52 Ways to Ignite Your Congregation: Generous Giving, has just been published.

Daily Prayer

Faith in the Son of God

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.2 We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments.3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.6 And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross —not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony.7 So we have these three witnesses —8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree.9 Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son.10 All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son.11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

1 John 5:1-12 (NLT)

All Prevailing Creator - Vulnerable Child in a Cattle Stall – during this season of Christmas, and beyond, empower me to live the life that Christ Jesus came among us to live. Help me to always see and understand my neighbor and my kin as your precious children, and to care for and treat them accordingly. May I have the mind of Christ; not for my own glorification, but for the elevation of all my sisters and brothers in life’s journey.

If I am too overcome the evil that proliferates all around me, then I need you ever more completely in my heart; in my spirit. May I know you more perfectly, that others may come to know and trust in you, too.

Amen.

Rev. Michael Kirchhoff

based on 1 John 5:1-12