Unveiled Faces

Don't Be Deceived [1 John 1:8-9]

I remember learning this adage early in my Christian journey: The only way to truly comprehend the good news of salvation found in Jesus is to understand the bad news concerning our sinful condition before a Holy God. Our verse today shows two sides of one coin. If the “bad” side describes the universal problem of sin that affects ALL humankind (Psalm 14:1-4), the other side describes God’s remedy (Isaiah 53:4-6). This is one of several verses in Scripture that every follower of Jesus should memorize and be ready to recite to a world that needs to know of their true predicament.

Chris Adomanis

Brought Forth [Psalm 51]

You can run Psalm 51 through the lens of your own life, through the lens of David’s life...through many lenses. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”, and all Scripture is amazingly connected. We just closed out Numbers, and so let’s run the Midinates through the lens of Psalm 51.

Todd and Amy Smith

Blessed are the Forgiven [Psalm 32]

This morning, my prayer is that this psalm hits you like a breath of fresh air in the mountains, like the sight of a loved one’s face after a long leave of absence. I pray that the word of the Lord stills your heart this morning. This is a psalm of thanksgiving and a psalm of confession. If you are able and willing today - find a quiet place to sit down and read this psalm (all 11 verses) aloud to yourself. Take an entire minute in silence afterwards to just listen and be still with the Spirit. I wouldn’t be surprised if that turns into longer for many of you. You matter, I love you, and the Faithful Creator of the universe loves you perfectly. Praise King Jesus.

Evan

The Veil - Juxtaposed [2 Corinthians 3:16-18]

We are creatures of comfort. As we saw in Numbers, many of the Israelites wanted to “go back to Egypt,” rather than move into the Promised Land. Paul is speaking to a people who are struggling with the “new things” that have now sprung forth in Jesus as Isaiah had prophesied in 42:9. A vocal minority did not want to accept Paul or his message of the transforming, Spirit-filled gospel. They wanted to return to the Law, the familiar, the stagnant. Paul is encouraging God’s people to receive with joy, an unveiled face. Transparency, relationship, transformation, peace, truth, and love all are available as the Lord’s redemptive story continues to march onward. Would God’s people live in the past, under the tutor, under the Law, under the veil? Or would God’s people personally welcome the truth, walk in it, and reap the fruits of the Spirit with faces brilliantly shining God’s light into the darkness? What will you and I choose today?

Kim Williams