Though it may not always seem or feel like it, Jesus is very present in our lives today. It is different than in the first century when he walked the Earth in that we cannot physically see him like those current day people could.But he is here, still, fully God and fully man, with an unrelenting desire to be active and intimate with our daily realities. After he ascended back to Heaven, Jesus promised the gift of his Holy Spirit. This Spirit is, in essence, him. Jesus. God with us. The one who knows what it is like to be human and to struggle along while living in this world.
Because he did struggle. And yet he lived in such a way that the pain was always worth it. Something greater always came out of it, because of his willingness to allow Father to be in control, to allow his love to come through the brokenness.
So many people suffer through life in a state of confusion and loneliness, questioning even God's own character as to why he would allow such hardship. It doesn't make sense. He's a God of love and peace, right.
Right.
And he showed us the right way to live through our hardships. Love abandonly, even at personal cost. Relate to others with a soft heart, celebrate with those who rejoice, and weep with those who mourn. Obey your Father in Heaven.
The fact that so many of us seem to either miss or forget is that Jesus, or God, understands. He was here, still is here. He's fighting for our freedom today. He won't take away the hard things just so we can have an easy life. Is that really love?
We must rest in knowing and believing that God's plan is the best, that he can see the end from the beginning. We must not question his character. He's living this life with us.
What can we see when we look into the eyes of Jesus? What did the people see who had the opportunity to look at him in person? I like how this book, The God Portal, by Tim Ferguson describes it:
"“So tell me, what should I expect when I meet him?” “When you meet him,” Zabud said, “You’ll remember his eyes…” He paused, searching for the right words. With a look of concentration, he started afresh. “Lawrence, when you meet a man, even one who is a dear friend, rarely are his eyes pure. If you look deeply enough you can see shades of darkness, such as mistrust. Sometimes you see fear. Or you see his cruelty. Or you see his pride, the way his eyes measure you, cutting you into small pieces. Do you understand what I’m saying?” “Yes,” Dr. Macklin said. Zabud smiled, his features softening...
“What did you see?” “I don’t have the words…” His voice trailed off, and he became quiet. “In his eyes,” Zabud said finally, “You will see the love of a brother. You will say to yourself, ‘I can trust this man, for he loves me like a brother.’”
https://kindle.amazon.com/post/SMF75cTKQiqdjF_gPAz_cw
When we look into the eyes of Jesus, we can see eyes that do not judge, that are completely pure and true, and know that we are loved by this man. By this God.
How can we bring into question one who has so clearly demonstrated his love for us, who so clearly desires for us to know his love, and went all the way to the cross to prove it, like we needed proof!
God's character, Jesus' character, can only be good.
What an amazing reality this is for us. Let him be intimately involved in your life today, knowing that he understands you and your life more than anyone ever will.
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