Face to Face

1 John 12 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 13 The children of your chosen sister send their greetings.
 
HERE is a very good lesson for us: Relationships become complete and joyful when you commit to be face to face with one another. “Face to face” in the Greek means “mouth to mouth”. It is talking with each other, learning, encouraging, forgiving, understanding and loving. This was John’s desire. His letters were important, but his personal words to the church were the way to true fellowship, so that our joy may be complete.
    This is God’s way, isn’t it? Consider all the words of the law and the prophets. The LORD God wrote reams of material for his people to know him. But the words did not complete his relationship with us! He came to meet his broken creation face to face. The Son walked the earth to show us the Father (John 14:9). He met with us, ate with us, taught us, suffered for us and saved us. In Christ our joy is complete because God came face to face to be with us. And even more, he promises his personal presence in our eternal lives.
    “Of course,” you might say, “you have to be present with others to truly know them and share life together.” So then, are you taking time to be face to face with people in your church and neighborhood? Do you invite them into your home? Are you willing to talk with them, pray with them, encourage them and speak of Jesus? Are your ears open to hear their words for you?
     This fellowship relationship begins when you are face to face with God. You can be now as his Spirit dwells within you. Talk with him. Hear his voice from Scripture and be in prayer. When you are personally with God, it is easier to be with his people. Know you will stand before him one day and be with hm forever.
    Such a relationship with God and with others will lead you to complete joy. We’ll consider complete joy in the next lesson.
 
Life Thought: Face to face is life to life.