You and I have a Father who longs to be eye to eye caring for us, moment after moment.
We are the children of the One who is love.
God so loved the world that He sent His son to stand eye to eye with us. He came to us. God didn’t send Him as an ethereal cloud, majestic being, or an angel. He sent flesh and blood to look eye to eye.
He comes to where you are today: In the unspoken loneliness you feel while trusting Him with the desires of your heart. In the complicated relationships that weigh you down no matter how hard you try to rise above. In the unexpected struggle to find fulfillment and contentment. In the war room of your faith as you continue to believe for a miracle or grapple with the finality of loss.
- Where are you and what do you see?
Maybe you feel forgotten or far away from God, though He is always tenderly mindful of you, offering a loving assurance like no other.
He has never looked away. His eyes are on you.
Remember that we are, after all, talking about the eyes of the Almighty. They hold much power. His eyes can see deep into our souls with a purifying, refining fire. They cause conviction and transformation of the heart.
The eyes of Jesus were never too busy to spot the outcast or those on the periphery of the immediate objective. He saw Martha in her hurry (Luke 10:38–42), Nathaniel under the fig tree (John 1:47–50), and perceived the motivations of His critics, discerning their hearts from afar (Luke 5:22).
Jesus employed His sight as He healed the deaf and mute man, looking up to Heaven before the miracle transpired. And His gaze was full of love as He looked at the rich young ruler, a man deceived by his own self-righteousness and lost in his search for truth.
When Jesus looks at you, His gaze is one of love, of a deep knowing. He keeps careful watch over you, interceding for you at the right hand of the Father.
But when you look at Jesus, what do you see?
If it’s not clear, we can let Scripture guide us. It describes God in human terms, making references to things we can grasp, even though God’s nature goes beyond what our minds can fathom.
He is the sun, the light, the day, and the morning star. He is fire, a torch, a fountain, and a rock. He’s a shield, a hiding place, a shadow, and a temple. An eagle, a lion, and a hen. All of creation indeed sings of His glory!
Scripture also refers to God as the Bridegroom and a husband. He’s a shepherd, a potter, and a physician. A king and a man of war. He is the Lord, mighty in power!
We also see our own human emotions and abilities mirrored in descriptions of Him. We read that He is knowing, seeing, and remembering; He’s smelling and tasting; He’s sitting, rising, walking, sleeping, and wiping away tears.
And then there are many names of God, which speak to His personal interactions with humanity and reflect the redemptive story. His names are all paths to our hearts.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower. We can run to it and find shelter. He’s the Healer for our wounds and brokenness. The Provider for our lack. A Father to the fatherless and those with father issues. The Prince of Peace when we are in chaos. The Lord of light who overcomes the darkness in our lives. The Deliverer when we are in bondage. The Savior when we are stuck helpless in a pit.
We can call him Jehovah Machsi, meaning, “the Lord my refuge.”
Or Jehovah Nissi, “the Lord my banner.”
Or Peleh Yo’etz, “wonderful Counselor.”
Our God is the Alpha and Omega. The first and the last. The beginning and the end. All of this is only a glimpse, a taste, a shadow, an impression of the magnitude of His nature.
This is the God who comes to meet you. He whispers to your heart, Will you look closer and come to know more of who I am?
God’s eyes are toward you; His ears hear you; His heart is for you. He has made this abundantly clear. His question to you is, Do you see Me today? Do you want Me close?
When we make eye contact, our souls are transformed. Hebrews 12:2 tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Even when you feel like hiding, running, or disappearing, His love is ready to wrap you up. Because of His heart for you, you can feel safe and secure knowing that you’re seen and perfectly loved in every season.
Adapted with permission for Devotionals Daily from Slow Burn by DawnCheré Wilkerson.
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Your Turn
Look at Jesus — He is eye to eye with you no matter what you’re going through. He’s got you safe in His arms, secure under His protection. He will not let you go. You are perfectly, completely, utterly loved by God. Keep your eyes fixed on Him! ~ Devotionals Daily