One day a first grade Sunday school teacher asked the class to think about something important and draw a picture of it. Each child began working on the special picture that they wanted to draw. The teacher noticed one little boy who seemed to be more focused than the rest. The others had finished and he was still working. She walked over to his desk and said, “Jimmy, what are you drawing?” He looked up and said, “Teacher, I’m drawing a picture of God.” The teacher said, “Jimmy, nobody knows what God looks like.” Jimmy thought for a minute, and replied, “Well, they will when I finish this picture!”
What does God look like according to you? The only thing some people know about Him is what they see in His children. What qualities of God can people recognize in you each day?
I remember hearing a beautiful story about a little boy who wanted to meet God. He put some Twinkies and cokes in a bag and walked out the door. He had only gone a few blocks when he met an old woman sitting in the park staring at some pigeons.
The boy sat down next to her and opened his bag. He noticed that the old woman looked hungry so he offered her a Twinkie. She accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again. He offered her some coke, and again she smiled.
They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling and never said a word to each other.
As it started to get dark the boy knew that he had to go home. He got up, walked a few steps, and then turned around and ran back to give the old woman a really big hug. She gave him her biggest smile.
When the boy opened the door to his house his mom noticed a look of joy on his face. She said, “What did you do today that made you so happy?” He said, “I had lunch with God.” Before his mother could respond he added, “You know what? She’s got the most beautiful smile I have ever seen!”
The old woman went home also radiant with joy. Her son was stunned when he saw her face. He said, “Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?” She replied, “I ate Twinkies in the park with God.” And before her son could say anything she said, “You know, he’s much younger than I expected.”
We can learn about God from a lot of different sources. One of the best sources is people. We have an opportunity to both demonstrate Godly attitudes and qualities, and to associate with people from whom we learn about Godly living.
In his youth, Jacob cheated his brother Esau out of his inheritance. Later in life, Jacob and Esau met. Jacob was overwhelmed by Esau’s forgiving attitude and he said, “I see your face as one sees the face of God and you have received me favorably.” (Gen. 33:10) Jacob saw the face of God through the redeemed relationship with his brother, Esau.
As a youth I attended MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) every Sunday night. We always ended by repeating the benediction together. Part of this was, “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you…” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Whose face shines in and through you?
