And I’ve been thinking about living life face to face.
“Recognition is the first human quest.” – Andy Crouch, The Life We Are Looking For
“We may suffer the sins of our brother; we do not need to judge.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together
“If shame is a barrier between you and Jesus, Just remember that shame is a wall built by human hands. Tear it down, and there Jesus stands, Waiting.” – Anna Williams, Substack Writer (@annawilliams777)
The fourth passage from last Sunday’s advent texts is 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13.
In one of his earliest letters, Paul writes to the Thessalonian church with a desire to see them face to face. He wants to recognize their face and their growing faith.
It might seem like a generic pastoral desire. As if he had hit copy and paste from another draft. But for a church expecting the appearing of Jesus at any moment, Paul’s desire was specifically meaningful to them.
His longing to appear before them and see them face to face, is — whether he is even aware of it or not — an imitation of Christ.
Paul, as an image bearer of God is not only foreshadowing the coming of Jesus, but following in Emmanuel’s footsteps.
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Jason Martin 