Devotions
DEVOTION BY MARK FUGATE
The Grace Face
I had a buddy who was obsessed with Olivia Newton John back in the day and I don’t think it was for her music. But she did have a song that said every face tells a story. A few of the lyrics went like this….
- Every face tells a story – it’s hard to hide a lie Every face tells a story – and yours is saying goodbye
Dr. Karl Menninger was a respected psychiatrist from the 20th century and he described what he called a negativistic personality…..
- Negativistic personality – people who are rigid, chronically unhappy, bitter, insecure, suicidal – and their faces say no.
Have you ever seen a no-face. I think we all have, but I believe according to what the Bible says Jesus must have had a yes-face. And what a contrast he must have been to those around him who were self righteous and proud and hypocritical – those who had a demeanor that seemed to shout no you can’t – but Jesus throughout his ministry continued to show people – yes you can. One of his closes friends said it this way…….
- John 1:14 – The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and only, who came from the Father – full of Grace and Truth.
And then John says something else after this that we never get to because we always stop at the verse I just quoted – but I think the next verse is pretty cool.
- John 1: 16 – From the fullness of His Grace we have all received one blessing after another.
You see while others around Jesus said no you can’t to children who wanted to be near Him Jesus said yes you can. While others around him said no you can’t to tax collectors who wanted to follow him Jesus said yes you can. While others around him said no you can’t to the sexually shamed who wanted to feel pure through him Jesus said yes you can. Jesus had a look that was full of compassion – you could see it in his face. He had a grace-face. We always say around here at Church that this is the grace place. Well let’s all do our part by wearing our grace face.
