Radiant Faces

Saturday, August 14, 2021
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Listen while you read: "At The Name Of Jesus"1 (Lyrics)

2 Corinthians 3:18 – And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (NIV)

The older gentleman approached me in the crowd of bustling shoppers. Wispy, white hair curled around his ears. "Ma'am," he said. "Can you help me find something in this store?" I paused from my work and smiled at him — a wide, beaming, friendly smile. I answered his question and directed him to where he could find the product.

After my response, he leaned closer to me, and in a conspiratorial whisper, said, "That smile. I bet it comes from the Lord."

"Yes, sir," I said, smiling again. I was grateful that the Lord's grace appeared on my face.

Moses, upon returning to Israel's camp after time on Mount Sinai, is described as having a beaming or radiant face.

Exodus 34:29-35 – When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. Afterwards all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai. When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever he entered the Lord's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. (NIV)

Moses glowed so brightly that the Israelites were afraid of him. His face reflected the glory of the Lord. His countenance presented evidence of God's presence.

Faces appear in all different shapes, sizes, and styles, with freckles, wrinkles, tan lines, and paleness. But the face of a Christ-follower glows. The spark of the inner life, maintained by prayer, through worship, and from God's Word, shoots upward from the heart to the face. The more time that we spend with Jesus, the more that we are transformed into His image.

What does His face look like? It radiates grace, joy, peace, and love. Whether we are at our jobs, parenting our children, or volunteering in our communities, may our faces display the glory of Jesus. May those around us know Who our Saviour is by the smiles on our lips and the light in our eyes. Pray with me:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to showcase Your glory and grace to the world. As I turn my gaze to heaven, may Your image be engraved on my heart, on my mind, and on my face. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Kathleen Dunlap <kedunlapco@gmail.com>
Arvada, Colorado, USA

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1 Comment

  • PresbyCan Feedback says:

    May it be so, Kathleen.


    How wonderful that he noticed Christ in you! Thanks for sharing.


    Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us! Blessings


    A wonderful Devotional! Blessings to you and those you love.
    (Ontario, Canada)


    Thank you. You’ve provided my closing for my prayer group today. I will give you credit and praise.


    Kathleen, the glow of your smile also radiates from your writing. Thanks for sharing God’s love in this way.


    Challenging at this time, here in western Canada, because of masks! Let’s pray it shines through our eyes!
    (BC)


    Hello Kathleen
    Thank you for this beautiful reminder to be a showcase for Jesus!!!
    God bless.


    What a good reminder from your devotional today, Kathleen. THANK YOU for pointing out how we can witness through just smiling and looking pleasant.
    (Texas)


    I’m glad that you were recognized as a child of God, by your smile!
    I’ve had a similar experience and can recognize those filled by the spirit by the “joy, joy, joy, joy, down in your heart”. How can we not be happy when we are so loved! Keep on smiling!


    Hi Kathleen, thank you for your encouraging message. I have always believed in the importance and power of a smile on our face. Even in this time of pandemic when a mask covers most of the face, it is perhaps even more important to put a smile in our eyes. I have heard it said that if we smile as we answer the phone, the caller hears the difference it makes in our voice. So… obviously, God radiates from our countenance when we smile at those we meet daily. May it be so!
    Blessings!
    (ON)


    Dear Kathleen,
    Well, what a lovely response by this gentleman. I would love for someone to say that to me. I will still try to radiate Jesus’s love and light through my actions and smiles and maybe one day it will also happen to me.
    As I join with you in your prayer today and ask God for his help with engraving on my heart and radiating out to others, I will feel his comfort and love. Thank you for sharing your experience and your thoughts on this important role we are to play. May you have many blessings come your way.


    Greetings Kathleen,
    I really enjoyed your devotional this morning. It is a true fact that having Jesus in our lives gives us a special joy and that joy can be so easily shared with others by a simple smile as you experienced with the interaction in your job. Your writing brought back a memory of many years ago when I had a some “Memo pads” printed to use when I had to leave a memo for a client. In the upper right-hand corner was printed “Smile God Loves You” and across the bottom was “Smiles are Rays of Sunshine”. Our Lord’s loving care sure gives us reason to keep smiling. Many blessings to you for your special writing.


    Amen, Kathleen!
    Thank you for writing to us.


    Thanks for telling us this happy incident that reminds us how important the small things are.

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